The Dallas Cowboys will be without Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin in their season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.
While he was ruled out by many media outlets days before, the team held out hope that Martin, who tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, could be eligible to play.
Martin is vaccinated and per NFL rules, he needed to be asymptomatic and have two negative COVID tests 24 hours apart to be activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
That did not occur, and the Cowboys traveled to Tampa Bay on Wednesday without Martin.
#Cowboys RG Zack Martin was not on the team charter I’m told. Not surprising. It was wishful thinking all week. Connor McGovern has next.
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) September 8, 2021
The absence of Martin in the starting lineup is huge for the Cowboys, and here are the reasons why.
He Is Key To The Running Game
Avid NFL fans know that the offensive line is instrumental to the running game.
A team’s running back is only as good as the line who blocks and creates running lanes for him.
Ezekiel Elliott knows what a loss Martin is.
Ezekiel Elliott: Cowboys offense will be without its "best player" vs, Bucs after Zack Martin's positive COVID-19 testhttps://t.co/n88SILTdNX pic.twitter.com/K8ZPKltUOh
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 6, 2021
Upon hearing he was ineligible for the Tampa Bay game, Elliott said:
“Zack’s our best player on our offense. I mean most runs, they coming back behind him. It’s disappointing but you can’t harp on it, can’t let it be more than what it is. I mean, definitely going to miss him, definitely wish he was out there, but we still have a game to go play and we got to try and get the job done.”
He Is Part Of Dak’s Protection
Prescott has not played an NFL game in 333 days.
He had the devastating ankle injury which required surgery and rehab.
In training camp, he tweaked his shoulder.
No one really knows how serious that was or is.
We barely got the news that Prescott is ready to play in Week 1 when we learn that one of the key members of his offensive line is out.
Overcoming two injuries and a lengthy hiatus without a key pass protector in a game against the defending Super Bowl champions is definitely a situation where the cards are stacked against Prescott and the Cowboys.
Conclusion
If there is any “good” news in this situation, it is that the COVID-19 test happened over the weekend instead of on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Though the Cowboys held out hope that Martin would be available, those hopes were slim.
Cowboys RG Zack Martin won’t play Thursday evening at Buccaneers, source said. Team held out hope, willing to fly him to Tampa on private jet Thursday. But his recovery from COVID-19 hasn’t reached that stage. Week 2 game at Chargers a realistic target.
Connor McGovern to start.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 8, 2021
This means there were days spent preparing Connor McGovern for the game.
McGovern got a lot of reps since Martin’s news came out.
He also filled in for Martin in 2020 when he was placed on IR with a calf injury.
McGovern describes himself as always ready to play.
Connor McGovern to start Thursday vs. Buccaneers in place of RG Zack Martin (COVID-19). “I always prepare. …Being in a situation like this, you’ve just got to be ready to step up.” Hopes to build off what he showed late last season. More comfortable. More confident. pic.twitter.com/WjubNrjASd
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 5, 2021
That is the only morsel of good news in this story.
We will soon find out just how ready McGovern is.
NEXT: Dak Prescott Not Living Up To New Deal Could Doom Cowboys For Years