Three more names were added to the Cowboys’ COVID/Reserve list on Monday. That brings the total number to five after defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins were late COVID scratches in the lead-up to Saturday’s preseason game versus the Houston Texans. Both left AT&T Stadium before kickoff “out of an abundance of caution,” the team said.
News of the new additions came as head coach Mike McCarthy was wrapping up a Monday afternoon press conference in which he stated that three players would now be placed on the list.
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, safety Malik Hooker, and rookie safety Israel Mukuamu will now enter COVID-19 protocol.
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb, S Malik Hooker and rookie S Israel Mukuamu are the three players added to COVID-19 protocol.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 23, 2021
What happens next for each of the individuals on the list depends on the person’s vaccination status. According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, Lamb is fully vaccinated. Watkins added in a subsequent tweet that Hooker has had one vaccination shot and was waiting for his second.
The news comes with six days to go before the team’s final preseason game, on Sunday against Jacksonville. Of significantly more concern is the Week 1 opener on September 9th. The situation bears a close watch as the club will work to ensure that all players are ready to suit up against the defending Super Bowl champs.
But the COVID news does add a wrinkle to the next round of roster cuts, due to the league office Tuesday afternoon.
Interesting to note that, because of the 4 guys on the COVID list, the Cowboys might only have to make 1 cut tomorrow to reach the 80-man roster limit.
How they decide to handle that probably depends on the timelines for return and whatnot.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) August 23, 2021
The Cowboys had already moved to a virtual format on Sunday in response to Quinn and Watkins entering COVID protocol. As per Jori Epstein of USA Today, the team met virtually on Monday to watch game film from the Texans loss.
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