FRISCO, Texas — The 9-3 Dallas Cowboys are set to battle the 10-2 Philadelphia Eagles for first place within the NFC East on Sunday, and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, like lots of his gamers this time of 12 months, shall be coming into Sunday night time’s sport a little bit banged up.
The Cowboys launched an announcement Wednesday:
Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy skilled stomach ache this morning that warranted additional analysis and resulted in a prognosis of acute appendicitis. He’s presently slated for surgical procedure this afternoon, anticipated to be launched later right this moment, and anticipates teaching on Sunday night time. The Cowboys three coordinators will run follow right this moment and till McCarthy returns.
McCarthy has since had the process, and it went effectively. He’s at dwelling as of Thursday, per a group spokesperson. Regardless of the surgical procedure occurring on Wednesday, McCarthy is as soon as once more “very concerned” within the game-planning course of, and he’s anticipated to return to The Star, the group’s headquarters, on Friday. McCarthy will do his Thursday night time playcall sheet assembly with quarterback Dak Prescott over Zoom.
“Had a few telephone calls with him right this moment, he is feeling nice,” Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer mentioned Thursday. “He is truly very concerned. The great factor is, the way in which we sport plan, we do a variety of issues early. We frontload stuff. We get to first and second down, third down, actually on Monday and Tuesday, which is nice. He is been very concerned. He is in good spirits. It is all the time good when he has a variety of recommendations once you speak to him on the telephone. Nicely, what do you consider this? That is once I know he is feeling good.”
Abdomen ache was the primary of McCarthy’s signs.
“He is like, ‘Ah, I do not really feel good, you already know?’ So when one thing’s improper, you do not really feel proper,” Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn mentioned Wednesday. “So he is an early riser, so once you see him there, we type of pulled up on the similar time, walked in collectively so he was going proper over to see [Cowboys athletic trainer] Jim [Maurer] and fortunately did proper there. As robust as he’s, like, ‘I am going to battle by way of it,’ after which subsequent factor you already know you are like, ‘this isn’t good. Glad he went, bought squared away. Excellent news for him, he is a quick healer. So he is been by way of it earlier than, so we actually count on him again rapidly, getting his process performed right this moment.”
Quinn, previously the top coach of the Atlanta Falcons for six season from 2015-2020 — together with the group’s run to Tremendous Bowl LI in 2016 — took to the rostrum Wednesday instead of McCarthy to clarify a plan was in place for the sort of occasion. McCarthy missed the Cowboys Week 13 sport through the 2021 season on the New Orleans Saints on “Thursday Evening Soccer” after testing constructive for COVID-19. Dallas received 27-17 as its protection recorded 4 interceptions off of quarterback Taysom Hill. Quinn served as the top coach and dealt with sport administration selections that day.
“You all the time must have a contingency plan,” Quinn mentioned Wednesday. “Mike is nice about that. I believe all of us realized so much just a few years again in COVID. Coach down, participant down, how does that go? He is performed a improbable job of mapping, not simply him however me, anyone else who may very well be in that very same spot to say hey, that is the following step and that is how we go. We’re tremendous organized and prepared for that.”
McCarthy, the Cowboys’ offensive play-caller, is anticipated to be teaching in opposition to the Eagles on “Sunday Evening Soccer.” Quinn refused to even speak concerning the hypothetical state of affairs of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer calling the offensive performs Sunday night time ought to McCarthy miss teaching the sport.
“You actually suppose that robust Irishman goes to overlook this sport?” Quinn mentioned with a smile. “We’re actually anticipating Mike being again for the sport. We’ll maintain it down for practices. Figuring out him, he’ll be on-line tonight eager to undergo pink zone and third down and all the pieces else. We count on him to be rocking by sport day.”
Prescott had the same response to Quinn’s about McCarthy’s availability.
“Yeah, I figured that from the soar, figuring out that man,” Prescott mentioned Thursday when requested if he thinks McCarthy shall be on the sideline calling performs on Sunday. “Figuring out how robust he’s too and the way robust he says he’s with an ideal likelihood to show it. So, yeah, I figured he was.”
The quarterback had way more of a straight face when speaking about how McCarthy’s has factored into his success this season. In his first season with McCarthy calling offensive performs in Dallas, Prescott leads the NFL in passing touchdowns (26) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (26-6) whereas rating within the high 5 in quite a few different passing metrics.
Dak Prescott stats in 2023 season
| NFL QB RANK | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Completion Pct |
70.1% |
third |
|
Go Yards/Att |
7.9 |
4th |
|
Go TD |
26 |
1st |
|
TD-INT |
26-6 |
1st |
|
Passer Ranking |
108.3 |
2nd |
| Anticipated Factors Added/Play | 0.21 | 2nd |
“Yeah, his playcalling has been nice actually, and it is a credit score to him and the communication,” Prescott mentioned Thursday. “It is communication all through the week after which the identical sense, Schotty [offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer] and the way in which that they are sport planning and putting in early within the week. And never simply solely him. [Quarterbacks coach Scott] Tolzien within the pink zone, L-Dub [tight ends coach Lunda Wells] the quick yardage aim line and [offensive line coach Mike] Solari within the run sport. I imply everyone deserves their credit score the place it is due. I imply our safety plans from [run game coordinator Jeff] Blasko and [assistant tight ends coach Chase] Haslett, it is a full group deal and everyone is working hand in hand. As I’ve talked about earlier than, their chemistry as coaches and dealing hand in hand with us, being accountable, holding us accountable and us holding ourselves accountable is de facto the place it is all stemming from. However Mike’s undoubtedly, as folks say, of their bag. You already know what I imply? He is firing them off. He is assured about it and we’re assured when it is available in.”
Quinn, Schottenheimer and particular groups coordinator John “Bones” Fassel will run the group’s practices till McCarthy, 60, returns to the sidelines. Regardless of lacking their head coach, the Cowboys do not plan on altering a factor about their follow routine all through the week.
“What’s good about Mike and the system right here is it is all laid out about how we go and what we might do from yesterday, right this moment, all over the sport and the conferences and schedules,” Quinn mentioned. “So fairly straightforward in that one. You simply take it and run with it between myself and Brian and Bones, we have it coated and we’re able to go right this moment, count on an ideal follow similar to it has been set as much as do. We’re able to go try this.”
All-Professional linebacker Micah Parsons, the NFL’s 2023 chief in quarterback pressures (78) and quarterback stress price (20.3%, greatest amongst gamers with a minimum of 250 pass-rush snaps on this season), is without doubt one of the Cowboys greatest warriors. Nonetheless, he gave kudos to McCarthy for deciding to not energy by way of the difficulty and get it taken care of immediately regardless of it coming through the week first place within the division is on the road.
“Simply discovered this morning and simply sending prayers to Mike, hopefully surgical procedure was good and he will get again wholesome,” Parsons mentioned Wednesday. “Coach Mike’s vitality may be very contagious, however that is simply an especially uncommon circumstance. He hasn’t missed something, ever. That is for him to be out there for the long term. I all the time consider in maintain what you are promoting now and goodbye.”
Three-time Professional Bowl defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence credited that Thursday night time win in New Orleans for getting ready the group to be with out McCarthy through the week.
“Simply discovered this morning, shoutout to COVID,” Lawrence mentioned Wednesday. “It helped us discover ways to modify rapidly. Undoubtedly praying for him to get again wholesome as quickly as potential. He is aware of we’re preparing, and we shall be prepared.
When McCarthy does return, earlier than or by Sunday night time, his gamers assure they’re going to be able to roll.
“I really feel like Mike has constructed an ideal construction round right here for us to proceed to maintain up the items and maintain going,” Lawrence mentioned. “I really feel prefer it was no stress, no wrestle to the day. I really feel like we did an ideal job of adjusting and ensuring we have been on time and locked in. We perceive what comes with this weekend. An enormous rivalry sport. We all know the Eagles are coming into city. We’re locked in, able to have enjoyable.”
