McCarthy out vs. Saints after testing positive for COVID-19

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy won't be on the sideline Thursday against the New Orleans Saints after entering COVID-19 protocols, the team announced Monday, according to Jane Slater of NFL Network.

"I feel good. Just a little bit of a scratchy throat," said McCarthy, who tested positive, according to ESPN's Ed Werner. "I thought it was a little carryover from the game. ... I guess it hasn't hit me yet."

The 58-year-old coach said in June that Dallas' entire coaching staff was fully vaccinated, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.

The Cowboys already had 11 players and coaches on the COVID-19 reserve entering Sunday, including star wide receiver Amari Cooper, who's missed two straight games after testing positive.

Eleven Cowboys players and coaches have entered COVID-19 protocol in the past 10 days. pic.twitter.com/lB58oVzPMw

- Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) November 28, 2021

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will move from the booth to the sideline to serve as Dallas' interim head coach, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.

Quinn has experience in the role after coaching the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2020.

The Cowboys are on a two-game losing streak, with their latest defeat coming at home against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving Day. Dallas has just one victory in its last four games.

Copyright (C) 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.