Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy expressed astonishment at the favorable

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy expressed astonishment at the favorable.

Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator, has been selected by McCarthy to take his place for the New Orleans Saints game on Thursday.

Mike McCarthy was attempting to act morally. Due to a COVID-19 epidemic inside the club, the Cowboys head coach checked into a hotel close to the practice area on Friday.

McCarthy desired to keep his family, his team, and himself safe.

At 5:30 a.m. on Monday morning, McCarthy took his scheduled COVID-19 test, thinking the scratchy throat he was experiencing was from yelling during the Thanksgiving Day game four days earlier. At 7:10 a.m., Jim Maurer, the Cowboys’ head athletic trainer, informed the head coach he tested positive for the virus.

“I was very surprised that I tested positive,” McCarthy said Monday afternoon in a conference call with reporters.

So McCarthy, in his second season with the Cowboys, will miss Thursday’s game against the New Orleans Saints and stay away from the team for up to 10 days. Because he is vaccinated, McCarthy can return in a shorter timeframe if he is symptom-free and passes two COVID-19 tests within a 24-hour period.

In the 62-year history of the Cowboys, McCarthy is the first coach to skip a regular-season game.

On game day, McCarthy will be replaced by Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. Quinn spent six seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. The squad will have to hold virtual meetings until at least Tuesday due to the COVID-19 epidemic, and players will need to wear masks indoors while undergoing daily testing.

McCarthy will still communicate virtually with his squad, including his customary game-day conversation in New Orleans. McCarthy is not allowed to communicate with the team after the game starts.

He joins former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury, who is currently the coach of the Arizona Cardinals, and Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy as the third NFL coach this season to miss a regular-season game due to the infection.

McCarthy’s departure raises the number of Cowboys players, coaches, and staff members affected by the illness during a 10-day span, adding to the concern for a club that has lost three of its last four games and is currently trying to recover.

In less than two weeks, twelve Cowboys coaches and players have entered the COVID-19 protocols. Amari Cooper, the Cowboys’ top receiver, tested positive for the virus, which caused him to miss two games. Cooper, who is unvaccinated, came back following a 10-day isolation period.

McCarthy will miss the Saints game along with the whole three-man strength and conditioning staff, offensive line coach Joe Philbin, and assistant coaches Jeff Blasko and Scott Tolzien. Terence Steele, the starting right tackle, will not play after testing positive for the virus.

McCarthy cut short his planned virtual meeting with the team and discussed his position toward the end after learning of the findings of his positive test.

over his conversations with the squad over COVID-19, McCarthy stated, “No different than I normally do, just stressed it from a personal perspective that this is real.” “Please take every precaution to protect yourself and your family; this threat is very real.”

McCarthy added that despite his best efforts to shield everyone around him, other members of his family fell ill with the virus.

The news on Monday came as a tremendous shock to a club that is now experiencing a two-game losing run and is still fighting a sickness off the field in addition to opponents.

This season, the Cowboys have had difficulty keeping everyone clear of COVID. Due to the virus, four Dallas starters have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

More than any other NFC East team, the Cowboys have had nine players placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list since September 1.

In contrast, one player has been added to the Reserve/COVID-19 list by the Cowboys’ opponent, the Washington Football Team, following the Saints game. The other clubs in the division, the New York Giants (four) and the Philadelphia Eagles (3), have taken less absences due to COVID-19 than the Cowboys have.

Dak Prescott, the quarterback for the Cowboys, stated, “Yeah, I mean, COVID is real.” “I can recognize that without the president or head coach having to step in. Whether or whether they received the vaccination, I witness cases of it happening frequently. It goes without saying that this is not something we can ignore or let atop. It’s absolutely true. However, we must take every precaution to keep ourselves and others around us safe. This includes washing our hands frequently and taking all reasonable steps to lessen the likelihood that we or they will contract it.

McCarthy’s top concern heading into this past weekend was trying to assist the Cowboys snap their losing streak. His focus was on rejuvenating the running game, which was inactive due to the injury of star running back Ezekiel Elliott’s right knee. After giving up a season-high 509 yards in a Thanksgiving Day overtime loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, McCarthy was hoping his defense would bounce back.

All expectation of a return to normalcy was dashed on Monday morning when word of the coach’s positive test came in.

Speaking about attempting to restore some normalcy, McCarthy remarked, “Well, I thought that was coming Friday and Saturday after this game Thursday.” However, I suppose that was also a kick in the ass. It’s simply the reality of the society we live in today, and for everyone of us, taking care of ourselves comes first. Since that is, quite honestly, how I have spent my whole working life, I need to kick myself in the ass and make sure that nothing else takes precedence over my health. I believe it’s important to maintain perspective and priorities, and our healthy football team will be prepared to play. I really am really confident about that.