McCarthy, who had an appendectomy and returned to the Cowboys, will call plays against the Eagles.
Texas’s Frisco Just four days before Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy was scheduled to be on the sidelines for an NFC East matchup against Philadelphia, McCarthy had an emergency appendectomy. Nevertheless, McCarthy is back with the team.
McCarthy wanted to return as soon as possible because he knew he would play a significant role in the narrative, even though Dallas was playing for a 14-game home winning streak and the division lead was at stake on Sunday night.
McCarthy, who missed the in-person sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, stated, “Anybody that knows me or has ever worked for me, I’m the last guy that wants to take any attention away from the players,” during his customary Friday conference call with reporters.
“This is a game for the player. Around that idea, I’ve based my program,” McCarthy remarked. “Everything that comes into contact with the locker room is crucial. It is therefore essential that I return here, get things moving, and ensure that everything is back to normal.
Two days after leaving the team’s facilities to visit the hospital because he believed he had a stomach virus, McCarthy returned on Friday.
An appendix was discovered via a scan, necessitating emergency surgery.
McCarthy spent the night in the hospital on Wednesday and participated in online meetings with the coaches and players on Thursday.
DeMarcus Lawrence, a defensive end, made fun of himself on Wednesday by referencing the COVID-19 pandemic that forced coaches and players to hold virtual meetings three years prior. “He is aware that we are preparing and will be prepared.”
With a win, the defending NFC champion Eagles (10-2) can move one game closer to back-to-back division titles in the NFC East against the Cowboys (9-3).
In the competition to guarantee home field advantage throughout the playoffs, a Dallas victory would leave the teams virtually level. Along with San Francisco, the NFC’s top seed and corresponding first-round bye would also be up for grabs.
McCarthy is in his fourth season as the Cowboys’ coach, but he has only been in his first as the play-caller since the absence of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Even though Brian Schottenheimer currently holds that title and has a ton of play-calling experience, there was never any indication that he would need to fill in for the most important game of the season.
“I felt calm and satisfied with the guidance, adjustments, and setup of everything that happened on Wednesday and Thursday,” McCarthy remarked. “I really do think the coaches and players deserve a lot of credit for just keeping things going.”
Less than a month after a significant birthday, McCarthy said the incident served as a reminder to have things checked out as soon as possible.
He stated that he doesn’t have any more medical check-ups prior to the game, but he still needs to follow certain instructions in order to be cleared for Sunday night’s game.
McCarthy stated, “I discussed with the surgeon that I need to make sure I get my fair share of sleep the night before.” “I’m in it alone. For a day, I was a good patient. So maybe tomorrow I’ll be two for two.