Dallas Cowboys make practice decision amid COVID-19 outbreaks in NFL

The Dallas Cowboys have made a decision regarding their practice schedule this week as the NFL is dealing with the largest outbreak of COVID-19 this season. With 47 players being added to NFL COVID-19 lists on Monday, the Cowboys made the decision to hold all team meetings virtually this week.

Cowboys limiting practice because of COVID-19

“All Cowboys meetings will be virtual this week,” stated The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “The players will only be at The Star for practice and weight room availability, which will be limited.”

Dallas’ practice availability has been a common issue throughout the year as players have dealt with injuries. The choice to limit players in practice this week will put more emphasis on the Dallas offense on Sunday, but risking an outbreak of players contracting COVID-19 could be far worse for their game plan.

Quarterback Dak Prescott has been the specific target for criticisms regarding practice time for the Cowboys. Many point to his slump in the second half of the season as being the result of trying to come back from injury too quickly and without practice reps to get in sync with his offense. Prescott’s first game back from a mid-season injury this year was against a Denver Broncos team that wasn’t expected to compete with Dallas. Prescott did not practice all week leading up to the game, and Dallas lost 30-16. Prescott only completed 19-of-39 passes in the losing effort.

Teams around the league are battling the new problems these outbreaks have caused, as multiple games were postponed from lack of player availability. The NFL saw 47 players placed on the COVID-19 list on Monday, the highest single-day total this season.

After a major outbreak affected Dallas at the end of November, Dallas has had 21 players put on the COVID-19 list this season. Dallas has even had head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn test positive earlier in the season as well.

The Chicago Bears notably have all three of their coordinators currently out, as well as their entire starting secondary for their Monday night game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Cowboys coaching staff dealing with absences

“Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel to work without assistant Matt Daniels [COVID-19] in coming days. ‘I’ll lean on C.J. Goodwin a little bit — and a couple guys that are veteran special teams to help me out.’ Fassel considers Daniels a future NFL coordinator,” explained the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken.

Now the Cowboys will look to replace Matt Daniels’ contributions with a committee of special teams support. Fassel specifically mentioned relying on his players to help pick up the load as he named defensive back C.J. Goodwin.

The news of Daniels’ positive test might have been a contributing factor in the Cowboys’ decision to host all team meetings virtually this week. Dallas plays Washington on Sunday, and a win would clinch their division title and keep the Cowboys fighting for a top seed in the NFC playoff picture.