Dallas Cowboys lose key coaching staff member to positive COVID-19 test

The Dallas Cowboys announced on Monday that they would be without a key member of their coaching staff due to a positive COVID-19 test. Special teams assistant coach Matt Daniels will be away from the team after entering the COVID-19 protocols.

Cowboys coaching staff battles COVID-19

“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.

The Cowboys are dealing with another member of their staff entering the COVID-19 list. As the NFL deals with multiple outbreaks that threatened the cancellation or postponement of games, Dallas continues to manage their own struggles.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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