The Dallas Cowboys will have to outpower Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday without one of their top offensive weapons. On Friday, the Cowboys announced that they had placed starting wide receiver Amari Cooper on the reserve/COVID-19 list, which will knock him out of Sunday's matchup. ESPN's Todd Archer reports that Cooper will miss the Cowboys' Thanksgiving matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders as well.
According to ESPN, Cooper is unvaccinated, meaning he will have to enter a 10-day quarantine. The earliest he'll be able to return is Monday, Nov. 29, so even if the Cowboys-Raiders game was on Sunday instead of Thursday, he would not have been able to suit up. However, he should clear COVID protocols in time for Dallas' Week 13 contest against the Saints on Dec. 2.
In nine games this season, Cooper has caught 44 passes for 583 yards and five touchdowns. All of those marks rank second behind fellow starter CeeDee Lamb. Without Cooper in the lineup, expect Michael Gallup, who recently returned to the field, to get more action in the passing game. Also look for Cedrick Wilson to step up as he has at certain points this season.
Cooper may not be the only Cowboy who could miss Sunday's matchup against the Chiefs, as offensive tackle Tyron Smith (ankle), cornerback Nahshon Wright (shoulder) and cornerback Kelvin Joseph (Personal) are questionable to play.
