The Dallas Cowboys are increasing team COVID-19 protocols and telling families to stay way for the holidays as they look to avoid a late-season outbreak.
Dallas is now holding virtual meetings before and after practice and changed the weight-room schedule so large groups of players wouldn’t be working out at the same time.
And if a player doesn’t feel well, he can check into the Omni Hotel adjacent to the team facility in Frisco, Texas.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to lower the risk and keep our guys safe,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told reporters on Wednesday.
Osa Odighizuwa was activated off the COVID-19 list on Wednesday, leaving fellow defensive tackle Trysten Hill as the lone player in protocol.
Defensive line coach Aden Durde and assistant special teams coach Matt Daniels are also in protocol. Both tested positive earlier this week.
Tightening up things was the right move in the view of veteran defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence.
“They got to stay home this year. We got to make that sacrifice again,” Lawrence said. “That’s what we came to at the decision as the NFL and also as a team, the Dallas Cowboys. We just got to do whatever it takes to make sure we give ourselves the best opportunity to win.”
The Cowboys (10-4) can clinch the NFC East if they defeat the visiting Washington Football Team (7-7) on Sunday night.
But the focus isn’t just on wins right now — Dallas players are highly aware of what’s going on with the coronavirus.
“It’s as high as it’s ever been with the meat of schedule coming to a point and we need everyone here,” running back Ezekiel Elliott said. “We need to start getting this thing back moving, how we had it early in the season. We are going to need everybody to do that.”
–Field Level Media
