Jerry Jones weighs in on Cowboys WR Amari Cooper's absence, vaccination status

The Dallas Cowboys were without wide receiver Amari Cooper on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs after he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Cooper will also miss the Cowboys Thanksgiving day game against the Los Vegas Raiders. He is unvaccinated, which means that he is forced to miss a minimum of ten days.

If Cooper was vaccinated, he would only need to return two negative tests for COVID-19 while remaining asymptomatic. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones chimed in on Cooper’s decision to not get vaccinated on Tuesday morning. He pointed out the impact that being unvaccinated can have on a team.

“It is a ‘we’ thing when you walk into the locker room,” Jones stated via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “This is the classic case of how it can impact a team. You can not win anything individually. And this popped us. This did pop us.”

In addition to Cooper, there are multiple other individuals out due to COVID-19 protocols for the Cowboys. Assistant strength and conditioning coach Cedric Smith and wide receivers Robert Foster and TJ Vasher are also out for the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.

Cooper has 44 receptions this season for 583 yards and five touchdowns.

The Cowboys wide receiver room will be depleted on Thanksgiving without Cooper

The Cowboys struggled without Cooper on Sunday. Dallas failed to score an offensive touchdown for the first time this year. Despite Cooper’s vaccination status, quarterback Dak Prescott has the back of his wide receiver.

“That’s my teammate. That’s my brother,” stated Prescott. “I’m going to continue to back him and support him. This is everybody’s personal decision.”

In addition to Cooper, Foster, and Vasher all being in COVID-19 protocols, receiver CeeDee Lamb is also dealing with injuries. Lamb suffered a concussion in the Cowboys’ 19-9 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. The Cowboys are hopeful that Lamb will be able to return on Thanksgiving, although his status is still in question.

With Cooper out and Lamb uncertain, the Cowboys will turn to receivers Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson in the passing game. Gallup recently returned from a stint on injured reserve.

In addition to Cooper missing last week and this upcoming week, his status is also uncertain for the Cowboys’ next game against the New Orleans Saints. Dallas plays against the Saints on Thursday, a week after Thanksgiving. That gives the Cowboys two consecutive Thursday games, and in turn gives Cooper even less time to clear protocols.