FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys will be without Zack Martin for Thursday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the Pro Bowl’s sixth right guard tested positive for the coronavirus and landed on the reserve list / COVID- 19.
Due to return-to-play protocols, Martin will not be allowed in time to play, although he is vaccinated. A fully vaccinated player may return to play in five days if he shows no symptoms after two negative tests separated by 24 hours. A player without a vaccine faces a quarantine of at least ten days.
“Obviously, he’s frustrated,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “But hey, this is the world we live in right now.”
Martin’s loss is a hard blow for an offense that didn’t fully debut in the preseason (the Cowboys held on to quarterback Dak Prescott due to a shoulder strain) and will face a defense from the Buccaneers. who was the best in the NFL last season.
The projected starting offensive line – Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Tyler Biadasz, Martin and La’el Collins – played just three sets together in four preseason games.
With Martin out, Connor McGovern would start on the right. He started eight games last season (six of which came when Martin was sidelined due to injury). Collins is dealing with a more intense issue, but has been allowed to return to practice on Sunday, as has Williams, who has missed the last two weeks after a stint on the COVID-19 list.
Offensive safety leader Brandon Knight has been classified as a close high-risk contact and has also been placed on the roster, while wide receiver Noah Brown remains on the roster.
The Cowboys have had eight players on the COVID-19 roster so far, which surpasses what they had last season, when six players combined to lose seven games.
“I’m not going to generalize them all, but I think some of the symptoms have looked more like a general cold,” McCarthy said. “I think our guys have done a great job. As soon as they feel something, they come in regardless of the moment and [trainers] Jim [Maurer] and Britt [Brown] i did a great job being in the lead. As soon as someone hears something, we put ourselves to the test, so I feel like our process is in order. “
Players spent a trial period on Sunday morning and held virtual meetings before arriving at The Star for practice. They will have virtual meetings after practice, and this will be the routine on Monday as well.
“The numbers have increased in our society, so I think we understand what we need to do,” McCarthy said, “and I think we’re more rehearsed in protocols and adjustments, as if we were making an adjustment today with the team. “. it was pretty perfect. “