KANSAS CITY, Mo. — From the wind to an offensive line that was missing its All Pro left tackle, the Dallas Cowboys had plenty of excuses to explain why they were whipped by the Kansas City Chiefs.
What they did not want to offer as an excuse was the noticeable absence of their Pro Bowl, No. 1 wide receiver, Amari Cooper.
Cooper missed Sunday's game against the Chiefs because he failed a COVID test. Cooper is unvaccinated, and he will also miss the Cowboys' game on Thanksgiving Day against the Las Vegas Raiders.
With CeeDee Lamb sustaining a concussion in the Cowboys' 19-9 loss to the Chiefs, there is a good chance the Cowboys will be without their No. 1 and No. 2 receivers for their next game.
Cooper tested positive for COVID on Friday. Fellow receiver Cedrick Wilson called the news "a shock."
After the game on Sunday, guard Zack Martin, head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Dak Prescott all defended Cooper's decision not to get vaccinated.
"It's unfortunate not having him but to say 'The decision he made,' I mean (I am) vaccinated, I could get out and be out two games," Prescott said after the game. "So let's not try to knock the guy or put the guy down for a personal decision."
Cooper's situation is unique because the Cowboys have only three days off between their game on Sunday in Kansas City and their next game, against Las Vegas on Thursday.
Typically players who have failed COVID tests miss only one game.
Down the line most players, and coaches, have used a similar approach as Prescott when discussing teammates who are not vaccinated.
"That's my teammate, that's my brother, we're going to support him," Prescott said. "That's his decision as I said way back in training camp when you guys asked me this question. So, yeah, unfortunate we're not having him but I know he'll come back and be beneficial for us in the late part of the season."
This is a delicate (impossible?) situation for all NFL teams.
Cooper is not the highest profile player who is unvaccinated and failed a COVID test to miss a game.
The NFL's highest profile player to fit that description is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers missed the Packers' game in Kansas City on Nov. 7, a 13-7 loss.
Rodgers was roundly roasted by fans and pundits, most notably Pro Football Hall of Famer and current Fox studio analyst Terry Bradshaw.
Bradshaw's studio partner, former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, said he was disappointed in "some of (Rodgers') selfish actions."
Given those words, I asked Prescott why Cooper wasn't being selfish.
"I never said Aaron was selfish, so I don't get where you're coming at asking me that question," Prescott said. "But that's my teammate, that's my brother, and as I said I'll continue to back him and support him. This is everyone's personal decision so I'm leaving it there."
From the start of 2021 training camp to Sunday, Prescott has been consistent on his stance on this messy issue. It's not as if he can do that much about it anyway.
The rules are outlined between the NFL Players Association and the NFL. Every player, coach and staffer knows the rules, and the consequences.
"Those decisions a part of the quest we're under," McCarthy said. "Those will be dealt with on an individual basis."
Seven games remain in the Cowboys' regular season schedule, plenty of time for another Amari Cooper type of situation to occur again.
If it does, they don't plan on using it as an excuse and will defend their guy because they really don't have much choice.
