Assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Dallas Cowboys Cedric Smith has entered COVID-19 protocols according to Calvin Watkins. Robert Foster , Cowboys’ receiver TJ Vasher, and Calvin Watkins also joined COVID-19 protocols.
He will be absent from the Thanksgiving Day game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
After previous stops in the league, Smith is now in his first season at Dallas. Smith began his coaching career with the Denver Broncos in 2001. He has also served on the staffs at the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Houston Astros.
He was also a running back in the NFL for six years. He was drafted in the fifth round of the Minnesota draft in 1990. He also had stints in New Orleans, Washington, and Arizona. Emmitt Smith and Emmitt Smith played college football together from 1987 to 1989. He was his primary blocking back.
Vasher, an undrafted rookie, has spent most of the season on Dallas’ reserve list. Vasher, who is 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, spent his college years at Texas Tech. He racked up 1,983 yards in his career and 21 touchdowns.
Foster, who was also undrafted in 2018, attended college at Alabama. He has not played in this season, like Vasher.
Two of the Cowboys’ three previous games have been lost, including Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. They are 7-3 and still hold a commanding lead in the NFC East division.
Dallas began its tradition of participating in Thanksgiving Day games in 1966. Since then, it has amassed a record 31-21-1. They have lost just 2 of 5 seasons, including a 41-16 defeat to the Washington Football Team in 2020.
The offense is led by quarterback Dak Preston and averages 418.1 yards per match. With 29.3 points per game, they are also the best scoring offense.
Kickoff between Dallas & Las Vegas will take place at 4:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium on Thursday. They will attempt to add another win to their Thanksgiving Day record, despite the COVID-19 issues that Cedric Smith, Cowboys assistant, and others have caused.