Covid-19 precautions, Donovan Wilsons injury leave Cowboys suddenly thin at safety – The Dallas Morning News

FRISCO The Cowboys didnt conduct any practice drills Tuesday with their third-team defense.

Right now, they dont have one.

Dallas went from having eight safeties in uniform for Saturdays exhibition against the Houston Texans to six on the active roster Monday to only four available by the end of Tuesdays practice. Starters Damontae Kazee and Donovan Wilson were the latest to be removed from the fold.

The Cowboys instructed Kazee to keep away from The Star on Tuesday, a source said, while awaiting test clarity on his COVID-19 clearance status. He hasnt joined the four teammates who were placed Monday on reserve/COVID-19.

Further update on Kazees status is expected Wednesday.

Wilson exited early in Tuesdays practice with a groin issue, being escorted off the field by head athletic trainer Jim Maurer.

Their situations came one day after four players, including safeties Malik Hooker and Israel Mukuamu, were placed on reserve/COVID-19. That designation does not necessarily mean a player tested positive; Mukuamu, for example, is known to have been a close contact while not fully vaccinated.

Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins also are on reserve/COVID-19. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn tested positive Saturday, being sent home from the preseason game.

With Kazee, Wilson, Hooker and Mukuamu unavailable, Darian Thompson and Jayron Kearse handled first-team reps in practice at free and strong safety. Steven Parker and undrafted rookie Tyler Coyle were on the second team.

The Cowboys held virtual meetings Sunday and Monday.

On Tuesday, they returned to an in-person format, except the team meeting was canceled and the meeting spaces were reimagined to allow for social distancing.

The vast majority of Cowboys players are fully vaccinated.

Team owner Jerry Jones would like to see the general public follow suit.

One day after the Pfizer vaccine received full FDA approval, Jones encouraged the public to get vaccinated. A team spokesperson said that, as of Saturday, 93% of Cowboys players are fully vaccinated.

During a local radio interview, Jones expressed pride in his teams vaccination status.

Everyone has a right to make their own decisions regarding their health and their body, Jones said on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM). I believe in that completely until your decisions as to yourself impact negatively many others. Then, the common good takes over. And Im arm-waving here, but that has everything to do with the way I look at our team, the Cowboys, or the way I look at our society. We have got to check I at the door and go forward with we. Your Dallas Cowboys are doing that.

Briefly: The Cowboys needed to reduce from an 85- to 80-man roster by 3 p.m. Tuesday. Four of those roster spots were accounted for when Lamb, Watkins, Hooker and Mukuamu landed on reserve/COVID-19. For the fifth, the team waived Lirim Hajrullahu, a stopgap kicker who filled in during Saturdays exhibition. This is the latest indication that kicker Greg Zuerlein is not only on track for Week 1 but will make his preseason debut Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Zuerlein, out since the spring recovering from back surgery, could be activated from the physically unable to perform list as early as Wednesday. Quarterback Dak Prescott expanded his participation some, throwing to several receivers in the group pass period of practice. He has yet to do competitive periods like 7-on-7 or full team drills since his July 28 exit with a right latissimus strain. The Cowboys practiced outdoors in sweltering conditions. Wide receiver Amari Cooper punctuated the session with a touchdown following maybe a push-off against cornerback Trevon Diggs. Cooper (ankle) continues to distinguish himself, eight days after his first training camp practice. As expected, Cooper Rush handled the first-team reps in favor of Garrett Gilbert.

1/18Dallas Cowboys equipment manager Mike McCord pulls a rack of shoulder pads after players shed them following Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

2/18Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws passes after Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

3/18Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) throws a pass during Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

4/18Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) waves to teammates following Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

5/18Dallas Cowboys athletic trainer Jim Maurer (left) briefs head coach Mike McCarthy as he arrives for Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

6/18Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz has help shedding his shoulder pads following Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

7/18Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (27) trees to knock the ball from Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Noah Brown's (85) hands during Training Camp practice drills at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

8/18Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) runs sprints up and down the sideline after Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

9/18Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) catches a ball as he fights off cornerback Deante Burton (33) during Training Camp drills at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

10/18Dallas Cowboys kicker Lirim Hajrullahu (7) follows through on a field goal during Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

11/18Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson (6) is walked to the locker room by athletic trainer Jim Maurer as Training Camp practice was starting at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

12/18Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Cooper Rush (10) and Dak Prescott (4) jog to the field as they arrive for Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

13/18Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz (86) fights off cornerback Anthony Brown (30) after making a long pass completion during Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

14/18Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) catches a throw during a Training Camp drills at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

15/18Dallas Cowboys running back Brenden Knox (36) escapes a defenders grasp as he carries the ball during Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

16/18Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) tries to elude defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) as he looks for a receiver during Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

17/18Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) hauls in a pass as he's covered by cornerback Anthony Brown (30) during Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

18/18Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) worked out on the field after Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

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Covid-19 precautions, Donovan Wilsons injury leave Cowboys suddenly thin at safety - The Dallas Morning News