Cowboys place WR CeeDee Lamb, 4 others in COVID-19 protocol, go virtual

Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The Dallas Cowboys placed wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and four others in the NFL's COVID-19 safety protocol, the team announced. Cowboys players also met virtually to start the week, but are scheduled to practice Tuesday.

The Cowboys announced Monday that Lamb, safety Malik Hooker and rookie safety Israel Mukuamu joined defensive tackle Carlos Watkins and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in the protocol. The team did not disclose if the players or Quinn tested positive or are close contacts.

"Like most things we do, we are going to be cautious and going to make sure we contain this outbreak and just be smart with it," Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Monday. "We have enough experience with the virtual format."

The Cowboys announced Saturday that 93% of their players and all of their coaches are fully vaccinated. Quinn and Watkins missed the team's preseason game against the Houston Texans Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Cowboys coaches met virtually Sunday and players met virtually Monday.

The NFL's COVID-19 protocol requires vaccinated people who test positive to isolate until they test negative on consecutive PCR tests, taken 24 hours apart. Symptomatic, vaccinated people who test positive also must be asymptomatic for at least 48 hours.

Unvaccinated people who test positive must isolate for 10 days after they test positive. Unvaccinated players who are exposed to COVID-19 as high-risk close contacts must isolate for five days. Vaccinated players who are close contacts must test negative for eight days, but can remain with the team if they are asymptomatic.

The Cowboys host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their final preseason game at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.