NFL All-Pro Ryan Kelly reveals tragic loss on Monday

NFL All-Pro center Ryan Kelly shared heartbreaking news on Monday. Kelly and his wife Emma lost their unborn daughter, whom they planned to name Mary Kate. She was born at 3.67 pounds.

The Colts veteran posted a letter to her on Twitter.

“Nothing made me happier than being your dad,” Kelly wrote. “You gave your mom and I that gift. You were simply a miracle and always will be. I’m sorry you never got to open those sweet eyes and see us or take your first steps but you have angel wings now.

“You left this world too soon but we know God had a bigger purpose for you. Your mom and I find comfort knowing you’re going to be loved on by your great grandparents. Thank you for watching over us and your future siblings. I’ll forever wonder who you’d be today. Until we meet again my sweet girl, I love you.”

Kelly, a 2016 first-round draft pick out of the University of Alabama, missed the Colts game on Sunday versus the New England Patriots. Indianapolis pulled out the win 27-17 to move to 8-6 on the year. The Colts face the Cardinals on Christmas Day for Week 16 action in the NFL.

MKK 12/17/2021 🦋 pic.twitter.com/sKJ1Rwj5fJ

— Ryan Kelly (@ryan_kelly70) December 20, 2021

Emma Kelly shared more about the tragic loss of the couple’s unborn daughter.

“I was 19 weeks along, 1 week from the halfway mark,” she shared on Instagram. “Women have a 1% chance of losing their baby this far along, and yet somehow, here we are.

“I learned her little heart just stopped for reasons unknown on Wednesday afternoon after rushing to the hospital upon discovering a little bleeding. After learning she wasn’t with us anymore, I was told there was no other choice but to deliver our baby next. Ryan and I spent almost 48 hours in the hospital. I labored for 24 hours with her before she made her entrance on December 17th. I was so angry at first that I had to deliver her, only for it to become the biggest blessing out of this nightmare. It gave Ryan and I the opportunity to hold our little Saint, Mary Kate, before officially saying goodbye to her.”

Cowboys make practice decision amid NFL COVID-19 outbreaks

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.

“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.

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. 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. 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, they’ve had 21 players put on the COVID-19 list. Dallas has even had head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn test positive.

All three coordinators for the Bears are currently out, as well as their entire starting secondary for their Monday night game.

On3’s Austin Brezina contributed to this report.