Report: Cowboys WR Amari Cooper positive for COVID-19 as unvaccinated player, out two games

The 7-2 Dallas Cowboys delivered bad news for fans ahead of the weekend when they placed star wide receiver Amari Cooper on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, which automatically made him ineligible for Sunday's game at the 6-4 Kansas City Chiefs. 

Cooper's situation took a different turn, however, when ESPN's Todd Archer reported the 27-year-old tested positive for the coronavirus as an unvaccinated player. Per NFL rules, Cooper must isolate away from team activities for a minimum of 10 days, which makes him ineligible to return in time to participate in the Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Cooper's next opportunity to play will come Dec. 2 against the New Orleans Saints assuming he is cleared to take the field by then. 

According to ESPN stats, Cooper is second on the Cowboys with 44 receptions, 65 targets, 583 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. The four-time Pro Bowl selection played for the Raiders from 2015 through the start of the 2018 season until he joined the Cowboys via a trade in October of that year. 

Archer adds the Cowboys have encountered no other COVID-19 issues and remain scheduled to fly to Kansas City on Saturday after practice.