One day after suffering a rupturing his right quad in practice and being lost for the season, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was cut by the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys had a waiver on McCoy's quad in his contract due to a previous injury.
If he hurt the quad, they could cut him and void the three-year $18 million contract he signed in March. McCoy will keep his $3 million signing bonus. The Cowboys save his $2.5 base salary for 2020 and the $1.5 million that was guaranteed to him in 2021.
The Cowboys would be interested in re-signing McCoy when he regains his health for next season.
But he is gone for now, facing surgery to repair the quad and uncertain future.
Interestingly enough, the move came just hours after coach Mike McCarthy sung McCoy's praises for his positive attitude at a morning press conference.
"Yes, I do," McCarthy said when asked about the prospect of McCoy sticking around to help tutor the young defensive tackles while rehabbing the injury following surgery. "Actually Gerald, that was part of our conversation, he expressed not only a desire to be here and be part of what we've started here. Obviously he's very comfortable and this is where he wants to be. That's exactly what he communicated to me."
The move also came hours after McCoy posted a positive video message to Cowboys fans on his Instagram account.
"I just want to say ... I'm still smiling," McCoy said. "To my teammates, coaches. Y'all going to get it. Got a championship to go win.
"To all the fans, stay tuned!"
McCoy suffered the injury when he had his foot stepped on by defensive tackle Antwaun Woods during a drill in Monday's practice, just the third of training camp and the first in pads.
McCoy was one of four veteran free agents signed to upgrade the defensive line. He was expected to provide push up the middle from the defensive tackle spot in the 4-3 and at defensive end in the 3-4.
Now, the Cowboys are hoping disappointing 2019 second-round pick Trysten Hill and 2020 third-round pick Neville Gallimore can step up.
"Gerald McCoy's injury, very unfortunate," McCarthy said. "I tell you, it makes you sick on a personal level anytime you see a player go through this type of injury. It was an injury that was in the drill work and I can't tell you just what he has meant to our D-Line just in the short time we've been together. He's a big personality, obviously an excellent, excellent football player.
"But I thought he was in good spirits afterward when I saw him and visited with him. He'll tackle this injury recovery just like he tackled everything else. Big personality, has a good mindset based on what's in front of him. But yeah, definitely a loss and very, very unfortunate."
McCoy will tackle the recovery not as a member of the Cowboys but as a free agent.
