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Mike McCarthy to return from COVID-19 absence Thursday
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy to return from COVID-19 absence Thursday

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy remarked last Friday he hoped to return to in-person work from his COVID-19 absence "sooner than later" after he watched the Week 13 win at the New Orleans Saints from inside a hotel room. 

According to Todd Archer of ESPN, McCarthy will rejoin the team Thursday as the first-place Cowboys (8-4) prepare to play at the 6-6 Washington Football Team Sunday afternoon. 

"The protocol experience has been an education to say the least, but I feel great. I'm ready to go," McCarthy explained while speaking with reporters. "Frankly, I think it's more of a technicality with the testing process that's keeping me out the full 10 days. So my arrival will be first thing in the morning. Actually, I think I might go at midnight, 12:01 tonight."

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn served as interim head coach for last Thursday's victory at New Orleans. McCarthy, meanwhile, has been staying at a hotel since Nov. 26 and will remain there a little longer after four family members tested positive for COVID-19. He added those individuals are feeling well. 

"I'm just thankful that it is behind me and, frankly, I can get back to my job full-time," McCarthy said. "It's a challenge, definitely, not being there every day, especially with what's right in front of us, the Washington challenge. I'll definitely look at it as a silver lining as obviously I don't have to deal with [testing] for the next 90 days."

Five other Dallas coaches also missed the New Orleans game because of health and safety protocols but have already returned to work at The Star.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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