Dallas Cowboys place wide receiver on reserve/COVID-19 list

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He will not play on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Since the Cowboys have a short week coming up, playing against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, Cooper will be out for the Thanksgiving afternoon matchup as well. It would be the first time the wide receiver misses back-to-back games in his career.

According to Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com, pending on whether or not Cooper is vaccinated, his status against the New Orleans Saints could be in the air, too. Scheduled to play back-to-back Thursday night football games, Cooper could be out until Monday, Dec. 29.

Cooper has once again been one of quarterback Dak Prescott‘s favorite targets this season. Ever since arriving in Dallas via trade, the former first-round pick has been the staple at wide receiver. He has 44 catches on the year, going for 583 yards and five touchdowns. Only CeeDee Lamb has more on the team.

Dallas will now turn to Lamb and recently returned Michael Gallup over the next two weeks. Cedric Wilson, who was involved with Gallup on injured reserve, should become the third wide receiver.

Cowboys activated kicker from reserve/COVID-19 list

Just as Cooper is moved onto the reserve/COVID-19 list, another Cowboy will be taken off, ready to go against Kansas City. Kicker Greg Zuerlein is going to be active after missing last week’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Zuerlein has made 14 of his 18 field goal attempts this season. He has missed kicks in two consecutive games. As far as extra points, the former Los Angeles Ram has made all but two, going 21-23. His last miss came in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Head coach Mike McCarthy has had faith in Zuerlein all season. After hitting the game-winning field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers, McCarthy said the team’s game planned around the kicker’s distance.

“The line going in was 40 (yard line). In my experience, that’s something you grade your on … in the pregame. So, it’s something you just keep on your call sheet,” McCarthy said. “When you’re kicking indoors, it’s usually about the 40.”

Lirim Hajrullahu was the replacement last week, who made all five of his extra-point attempts. According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, he has moved back to the practice squad but is one of the Cowboys’ four protected practice squad players. No other NFL team can pick him up.