Breaking: Mike McCarthy Is Out For Thursday Night's Game
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on before the game against the Carolina Panthers at AT&T Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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The Dallas Cowboys will be without their head coach on Thursday night. On Monday morning, news came down that Mike McCarthy tested positive for COVID-19. ESPN's Adam Schefter and Diana Rossini were on it first.
"Cowboys' HC Mike McCarthy is out for Thursday night's game [vs] Saints due to COVID, per sources," Schefter tweeted.
McCarthy's absence is just the latest in a string of positive tests for the Dallas Cowboys. One league source told the NFL insider "there are up to eight positives" in Dallas' facility.
Most recently, receiver Amari Cooper missed the last two games due to testing positive for the virus under the league's COVID protocol for unvaccinated players.
McCarthy reportedly is vaccinated.
In addition, Dallas will be without offensive line coaches Joe Philbin and Jeff Blasko on the sideline for Thursday night's game against the New Orleans Saints. As well as, strength coaches Harold Nash and Kendall Smith.
Running backs coach Skip Peete missed the Cowboys' Week 10 game against the Falcons due to COVID.
A number of players could also fall victim to the outbreak. The team was already reportedly weighing sitting Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott.
The Cowboys are currently on a two-game skid following losses to the Chiefs and Raiders in consecutive weeks.
The team hasn't said who will wear McCarthy's headset on Thursday. But chances are defensive coordinator Dan Quinn would be the one filling in, given his six years of HC experience in Atlanta.
