Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin tests positive for COVID-19, will miss season opener
So much for the Dallas Cowboys’ hopes of finally being at full strength for Thursday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On the same day that left guard Connor Williams returned to practice after being activated off the NFL’s COVID-19 list, coach Mike McCarthy announced that Pro Bowl right guard Zack Martin will miss the Buccaneers game after testing positive for COVID-19.
Martin is fully vaccinated but the NFL return-to-play protocols make it impossible for him to be cleared before Thursday.
A fully vaccinated player can return to play in five days if he does not have symptoms following two negative tests separated by 24 hours. An unvaccinated player faces at least a 10-day quarantine.
“He’s frustrated obviously,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “But, hey, this is the world we live in right now.”
Backup up guard Connor McGovern will start at right guard in place of Martin. Reserve guard Brandon Knight may also be sidelined for the opener as he has been identified as a close contact and has been removed from practice.
It’s the continuation of a rash of COVID-19 issues that have cropped up among the Cowboys in recent weeks.
Receiver Noah Brown remains on the COVID-19 list.
Receiver CeeDee Lamb, safety Malik Hooker, safety Damontae Kazee, safety Israel Mukuamu, defensive tackle Carlos Watkins and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn have all missed time due to COVID-19 protocols.
Martin, however, is the biggest blow.
He is the team’s best offensive lineman and he was a key part of the team’s plans to protect quarterback Dak Prescott against a Buccaneers defense that was the best in the league last season.
The season opener will mark Prescott’s first game since he sustained a fractured right ankle last October.
He did not play in any preseason games.
Even without Martin, the offensive line is far from full strength.
Right tackle La’el Collins, who is dealing with stinger issues, practiced Sunday for the first time in more than a week. Williams missed the past two weeks on the COVID-19 list so his conditioning could be an issue with just three practice days before the opener.
“Zack’s our best player on our offense,” running back Ezekiel Elliott said. “I mean most runs, they’re coming back behind him. It’s disappointing. Definitely going to miss him, definitely wish he was out there, but we still have a game to go play.”
The Cowboys, who had six players combined to miss seven games due to COVID-19 all of last season, have had nine players on the COVID-19 list over the last two weeks.
“I’m not going to generalize them all, but I think some of the symptoms have been 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 time, and [trainers] Jim [Maurer] and Britt [Brown] have done a great job staying on top of it. As soon as someone feels something, we’ve been getting tested, so I feel our process is in order.
“The numbers are up in our society so I think we understand what we need to do. I think we’re more rehearsed in the protocols and the adjustments, like we make an adjustment today with the team, it was pretty seamless.”
The Cowboys held virtual meetings before coming to practice on Sunday. They will have virtual meetings after practice and will continue to do the same on Monday.
This story was originally published September 5, 2021 at 11:37 AM.
