Mike McCarthy discusses the Cowboys' future plans as they add three more players on the reserve/COVID-19 roster. (1:10)
FRISCO (Texas) -- The Dallas Cowboys added three players to the COVID-19 roster. They went to a virtual format Sunday and Monday after Carlos Watkins and Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator, were sent home from Saturday's preseason match against the Houston Texans.
Coach Mike McCarthy stated, "I think we're just being prudent and want to ensure we contain this epidemic and just be smart with it."
On Monday, Lamb was joined by Israel Mukuamu and Malik Hooker, who were both added to the COVID-19 reserve/COVID-19 lists.
The Cowboys made it clear that Quinn and Watkins had been placed in the COVID protocols. This would make up for the fact that 93% of their players were fully vaccinated. That would be 80 of the 86 players on their roster. To continue working with players, the entire coaching staff and support staff had to be fully vaccinated prior to training camp.
A fully vaccinated coach or player can fail a test and become asymptomatic. He will be allowed to return to the club and interact with other players after two negative Mesa tests and at least 24 hour intervals.
If a coach or player who has been fully vaccinated tests positive for symptoms, he should be kept in isolation for 24 hours until he receives two negative PCR test results.
Players who are not vaccinated and have no symptoms will be required to miss at most 10 days. Players with symptoms who are not vaccinated will be required to miss at least 10 working days. Other requirements may apply depending on severity.
Quinn and the other players may have symptoms.
Sunday was a testing day for coaches and support staff.
McCarthy stated, "Hopefully we reach that 72-hour mark by Saturday and hopefully there'll be more information there."
The Cowboys can place four players on the COVID roster, but only one roster move is required to reach Tuesday's 80-player limit. The Cowboys must make the corresponding roster move once the protocol has been cleared.
McCarthy said that the Cowboys will be back in practice Tuesday but that they did not anticipate any changes to the pace of the workout.
"I probably look a lot like everyone here." He said that he watches the numbers and listens to the league's suggestions, is aware of what's happening in society, here locally, and anticipates. "My job is make sure we have a plan, no matter what happens."
Six Cowboys players were responsible for seven of the missed games on COVID's list a year ago.
"The messaging is constant. McCarthy stated that any time there is a memo from the NFLPA or league, it's always communicated." "I love the player council we created. They are very active. All of us have a clear understanding of the current state. We are not certain of the events that occurred last year. We are following the same approach."
