We’re starting to sound like a broken record, but the hits just keep playing.
All-Pro guard Zack Martin has tested positive for Covid-19 and is expected to miss Thursday’s NFL opener between his Dallas Cowboys and last year’s Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Owner Jerry Jones is holding out hope that the anchor of the offensive line could still get the required two negative tests and suit up on Thursday, but chances are slim.
According to the NFL:
Given return-to-play protocols, the Cowboys aren’t expecting Martin to play Thursday night. A fully vaccinated player — which Martin reportedly is — can return if he does not have symptoms and receives two negative tests 24 hours apart. While theoretically possible Martin could be cleared in time, given symptoms were present, it’s unlikely he’ll make it back in time.
Third-year guard Connor McGovern is expected to start in Martin’s spot for the season-opener.
Not only is Martin a key people-mover for Zeke and the Cowboys’ ground game, but he’s also a wall in front of Dak Prescott. Given that the QB is coming off a major ankle break, keeping him clean will be vital for Dallas to move the ball against a stout Bucs defense. Last time we saw Tampa’s D, they were making Patrick Mahomes run for his life in the Super Bowl. Now, Vita Vea, Ndamukong Suh et al. won’t have Martin to deal with in the season opener.
The NFL has led other sports leagues as the trendsetter on two fronts. They have been the most oppressive over their players and staff when it comes to Covid-19 “vaccines,” setting clear rules that are meant to pressure and shame unvaccinated players into taking the jab. Then, of course, they are the kings and queens of “wokeness” in the sports world, choosing to represent all things attached to Cultural Marxism as their new brand identity.
Despite these pushes to promote authoritarianism as their mantra, the efforts to keep Covid-19 out of their locker rooms is failing miserably. With recent reports that the coronavirus doesn’t seem to be affected at all by the presence of experimental drugs in a person’s body, this was all very predictable.
