Mike McCarthy: Multiple Cowboys personnel are on Reserve/COVID-19 list
The Dallas Cowboys are dealing with a serious COVID-19 issue. According to The Athletic’s Jon Machota, the Cowboys are without multiple offensive personnel due to COVID-19 issues. Dallas is currently without multiple players as well as offensive staffers.
“Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said offensive tackle Terence Steele, offensive line coach Joe Philbin, assistant o-line coach Jeff Blasko and offensive coaching assistant Scott Tolzien are all on the COVID-19 list,” Machota tweeted. “None of them will be available for Thursday’s game at New Orleans.”
The Cowboys were already without multiple staffers and players on Thanksgiving day against the Las Vegas Raiders, including Philbin and wide receiver Amari Cooper. Both Philbin and Cooper tested positive. Luckily for Dallas, Cooper is expected to return this week.
Tight end Blake Jarwin, who is already on injured reserve with a hip injury, was also added to the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday.
McCarthy, Jerry Jones looking to bounce back from tough November
As the Cowboys have been dealing with COVID-19, the team has also struggled through the month of November. Dallas entered the month with a 6-1 record, coming off of a win over the Minnesota Vikings without quarterback Dak Prescott. But November has been a different story.
The Cowboys began the month with a disappointing 30-16 loss to the Denver Broncos. Dallas bounced back with a commanding 43-3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, but things have fallen off again. Last week the Cowboys lost 19-9 to the Kansas City Chiefs after failing to score a touchdown. On Thanksgiving, the Cowboys fell 36-33 in overtime to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Cowboys now sit at 7-4 on the season, with their lead on the rest of the NFC East dwindling. With a game against the New York Giants on Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles can improve to 6-6 on the season. Washington can also improve to 5-6 with a win over Seattle on Monday. The Cowboys’ rough November has put them back into a battle for the NFC East, and the current COVID-19 issues will only make things tougher.
The Cowboys travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints on Thursday night. Dallas then travels to take on Washington and New York over the following two weeks. The Cowboys then wrap up the year with home games against Washington and Arizona and a trip to Philadelphia to wrap up the regular season.