AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy
announced linebacker Keanu Neal will miss Monday night’s Week 3 game
against the Philadelphia Eagles after testing positive for the
coronavirus.
McCarthy provided the update Saturday
after Neal was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday when he
was deemed a high-risk close contact.
Neal signed with Dallas as a free agent
in March on a one-year, $4 million contract. He spent his first five NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
The 26-year-old University of Florida
product started the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the reigning Super Bowl
champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he has played over 70 percent of the
defensive snaps in each of the first two games, per Pro Football Reference, despite not being in
the starting lineup for last week’s win over the Los Angeles
Chargers.
He’s tallied nine tackles through
his first two appearances.
Leighton Vander Esch should pick up
most of the extra playing time at the linebacker level alongside
Jaylon Smith and Micah Parsons. The Cowboys have been using an
extra defensive back in a lot of situations, which could lead to
more snaps for Jayron Kearse.
Neal’s next chance to play will come
Oct. 3 when Dallas hosts the Carolina Panthers.
Meanwhile, defensive end Bradlee Anae will be absent after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
He’ll join Neal, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence
(foot) and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins (knee) among the team’s
key contributors who are out of the lineup.
The depletion of depth is a concern for
a unit that ranks 27th in total defense (419.5 yards allowed per
game).
