FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys (7-4) have lost three of their previous four games and the New Orleans Saints (5-6) are coming off a four-game losing streak. Both teams are spiraling downward and will strive to change their fate on Thursday at the Superdome.
The Cowboys’ preparation for Week 13’s showdown has been modified due to a COVID outbreak at the team’s facility in Frisco. The coaching staff has taken the brunt of the virus this week and adjustments have been made. The team has transitioned to a virtual format to try and mitigate the spread. Players and coaches will test daily up until game-time on Thursday night in New Orleans. However, the embattled unit will get several reinforcements back this week including wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. Here are several storylines ahead of Thursday’s matchup in NOLA.
- Head coach Mike McCarthy tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday morning and will not be on the sidelines in Week 13. His bout with the virus comes off an already decimated staff. Six other coaches have been confirmed to be in COVID protocols, including offensive line coach Joe Philbin, assistant offensive line coach Jeff Blasko and offensive assistant Scott Tolzien. Three strength and conditioning coaches have popped up on the Reserve/COVID-19 list as well: Harold Nash Jr., Cedric Smith and Kendall Smith. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will serve as the interim on Thursday, moving from the coach’s booth to the sideline. Quinn has the most head coaching experience of the staff members – serving as head coach of the Falcons from 2015-2020 – and he will manage the defensive coordinator duties and in-game adjustments while wearing the headset. A larger role for Quinn has been the team’s contingency plan for a situation of this caliber, based on his recent experience. For the offensive line, tight end coach Lunda Wells has taken over Philbin’s duties in the O-Line room. Wells has experience working with the offensive line, serving as the assistant O-Line coach for the New York Giants (2013-2017) and is “dialed into the run game” per right guard Zack Martin.
- Along with the staff members, two players have tested positive: right tackle Terence Steele and cornerback Nahshon Wright. Both are currently in COVID protocols and will miss Thursday’s game. Steele has started 10 games this season at both tackle spots (three at left tackle in Tyron Smith’s absence), earning the starting role over veteran La’el Collins following his return from a five-game suspension. Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan, “Steele has been playing very well at right tackle, started really well. And, so, he’s out there because at that particular time that’s the combination the coaches feel give us the best chance. La’el is continuing to get back to form is the best way I can say it. He missed arguably a year and a half. You can see that.” In Steele’s absence, Collins will be the starter at right tackle on Thursday after playing three snaps against the Raiders during the offensive line shuffle on the second series.
- The good news? Dallas will see the return of CeeDee Lamb and DeMarcus Lawrence. Lamb has missed the previous six quarters of football after suffering a concussion in Kansas City. He was close to playing against the Raiders on Thanksgiving but was not to complete the concussion protocol five-step process. Lamb dealt with lingering head pressure and described himself as not being “mentally nor physically prepared” for Week 12. He was a full participant in Monday’s practice and told media he will play against the Saints. On the opposite side of the football, Lawrence has not played since Week 1 against Tampa Bay after suffering a broken foot during practice in a routine pass rush drill. The club activated his 21-day practice window earlier in the week and he will make a much-anticipated return in the Superdome. His burst off the edge will help solidify the Cowboys’ front on Thursday.
- Amari Cooper missed the Chiefs and Raiders game on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. He is back in the practice facility but did not practice on Monday, as the team prepares for the Saints. The Cowboys have another practice on Wednesday before departing for New Orleans. If Cooper does not practice, he will not play against the Saints. Mike McCarthy confirmed on Tuesday morning that Cooper is still “not feeling the best” and is experiencing a cough. The team is continuing to exercise caution with the No. 1 receiver. Even if Cooper does play on Thursday, the snap count that he is accustomed to will be lower due to conditioning.
- For the Saints, the team announced that Taysom Hill will start at quarterback over Trevor Siemian. After a 5-2 start, the organization lost Jameis Winston, upon tearing his ACL in the second quarter of the team’s Week 8 matchup against the Bucs. Siemian took over and led the team to a victory over Tampa Bay but since then, the Saints have dropped to 0-4 with him under center. Hill has thrown only eight passes in 2021 and started just four games last season for the Saints, compiling a 3-1 record during the span. Cornerback Trevon Diggs described to media that the defense has been preparing for both Hill and Siemian throughout the week, locking in on both quarterback styles.
- Like Dallas, the Saints will potentially be getting several cornerstone players back to bolster the squad. Running back Alvin Kamara returned to practice on Sunday after missing the previous three games with a knee injury. In addition, back Mark Ingram and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk also returned to practice. All three could be available against the Cowboys. All-Pro Kamara has an explosive first-step with rare vision and elusiveness to escape defenders. The slashing back is also a play-making threat as a receiver and the Cowboys’ defense will have to be gap-sound and effectively set edges to limit yards-after-contact if he plays Thursday.
- Like the Cowboys’ offense in previous weeks, the Saints have struggled to sustain drives and get in sync. Despite the offensive woes, their defense has allowed a touchdown on only 47.1 percent of its opponents red zone drives in 2021 (second-highest percentage in the league) with household names such as Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, Marshon Lattimore and Malcolm Jenkins leading the charge. Davis – the team’s middle linebacker – makes the calls, defends the run/pass and effectively gets to the quarterback on blitzes. He is a disruptive player that Kellen Moore will have to be mindful of. Dak Prescott told D210SPORTS, “Cam Jordan and [Marcus] Davenport, they’re great players and they’ve got a great linebacker in Demario Davis and Kwon Alexander as well. When you put that whole front seven together, they present challenges. But it’s not anything we’re not up for. We’ve just got to make sure our communication is on the right page and making sure that we’re protecting and getting bodies on guys that we need to, extra help if we have to here and there, and playing our best game.”
