Dallas Cowboys

Andy Dalton's been cleared to play football again after contracting coronavirus ... but he says his nose and mouth still ain't ready to smell or taste things just yet.

The Dallas Cowboys QB -- who was diagnosed with COVID-19 at least 2 weeks ago -- told reporters Thursday despite testing negative now, his sense of smell and taste are still being affected by the virus.

"You can tell things are sweet," the 33-year-old said. "You can tell things are salty. You just don't get the flavor with it."

Dalton, trying to make light of it all, said it's actually helping his diet ... "I can eat really healthy right now, and it doesn't matter because I can't taste it."

Dalton told reporters the whole thing was actually pretty scary ... he says the virus hit him HARD the first day -- AND his wife and kids ended up coming down with it as well.

Andy, though, says everyone is now on the mend.

"Been a crazy three weeks," said Dalton, who had to recover from a concussion at the same time as his COVID diagnosis, "but excited to be on the other side of it."

Dallas Cowboys QB Andy Dalton has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list -- meaning he will NOT play this weekend ... but no one is saying if he formally tested positive for the virus.

As the Cowboys pointed out on its official team website, players can be placed on the COVID list without testing positive.

"If a player has been exposed to individuals who have tested positive, or even has experienced some of the common symptoms, will land them on the reserve list."

We've reached out to the team for clarification -- but so far, no comment on Dalton's health status.

Dalton has been out since suffering a serious head injury during the Oct. 25 matchup against the Washington Football Team.

Cowboys rookie QB Ben DiNucci -- a 2020 7th-round pick -- started for Dallas last week against the Eagles, but it was a mess. Ben only completed 21 of 40 pass attempts for 180 yards.

Dallas fans were hoping Dalton would be healthy enough to take over the reins for the Steelers game this weekend -- but now, that ain't happening.

The Cowboys say Dalton will likely be out for another 14 days.

Of course, the team does have newly signed Cooper Rush on its practice squad ... and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday the 'Boys could go with him rather than DiNucci on Sunday.

Either way ... the Steelers are absolutely BALLIN' this season and have arguably the toughest defense in the NFL.

So, yeah ... good luck!

Dak Prescott can't throw another TD for the Cowboys this year ... but he's still helping in a big way -- prepping Dallas' rookie for a possible start with an embrace and advice!

Here's the deal ... the Cowboys' season has become such an injury-filled train wreck that 2020 7th-round pick Ben DiNucci (who played college ball; at James Madison Univ.) is now expected to be under center Sunday vs. the Eagles.

It ain't ideal ... DiNucci was drafted to be a developmental QB who wasn't supposed to see the field for YEARS -- so there's big-time worry in Big D.

But, Dak's making sure DiNucci ain't going into his first possible start underprepared ...

"Kind of just walked up to him and said, 'Hey, this isn't what you said my rookie year was going to be like,'" DiNucci said of his recent talks with Prescott.

"He laughed and gave me a hug and just said, 'We've talked about this. Go out there and do you. Take completions. Trust the guys around you. You'll be great. Don't overthink it. Football's football.'"

DiNucci seemed to take the advice to heart ... 'cause he added, "It's a game I've been playing since seventh grade. Not going to try to make it any more than it is."

"Going to have fun with it, bring a lot of energy, bring a lot of confidence and let my play speak for itself."

Dak's sidelined for at least the next 4 months after suffering a gruesome ankle injury earlier this month. His replacement, Andy Dalton, could miss the next couple games as well after he took a violent hit to the head last Sunday.

So, seems to be DiNucci's show for the foreseeable future ... and if he somehow shines -- better chalk up another game-changing assist for Prescott.

Jerry Jones clearly ain't handling the demise of the Dallas Cowboys' season well ... he just snapped at a radio host after a leadership question -- straight-up telling the guy to "shut up."

The team's owner was speaking with 105.3 "The Fan" Tuesday morning ... when one of the hosts asked him if he believes his 2-5 Cowboys have a "leadership void."

The 78-year-old rambled in his answer ... and when the host tried to clarify the question -- Jones got big mad.

"Well, just shut up and let me answer it," Jerry said. "No."

Jerry later circled back at the end of the interview to apologize for getting snippy ... telling the hosts, "If I were a little abrupt there, then I really don't want to have our day start that way."

"You're too good of men for that," he said. "This certainly isn't my most tactful time, you might say, with this thing as we discuss these matters."

Jones added he's SUPER disappointed by how the Cowboys' season has played out so far ... explaining, "We haven't spent the time, the years, the money, the effort and everything for the Dallas Cowboys to be where we are right now."

If you haven't been paying attention ... the Cowboys are vying for the title of "Worst in the NFL" in 2020.

The team's defense hemorrhages points ... and with the offense losing Dak Prescott and several key offensive linemen to injury, it just can't score enough to keep up.

Jones, though, is trying to stay positive despite the clear frustration ... adding in his interview, "There will be better days."

Surreal moment for Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Nolan ... the dude had to pause his news conference Monday 'cause he said he rubbed hot sauce in his eye.

... for real.

The much-maligned coach was fielding questions on a call with reporters ... when suddenly, he abruptly announced he had to take a few minutes off.

And, the reason why? He said he had Tabasco on his finger and accidentally touched his eyeball with it!!!

Nolan left the call for several minutes to handle the issue ... but, thankfully, the 61-year-old was able to get everything cleared up and jump back on the phoner.

"My eye feels a lot better," Nolan said of the drama afterward. "But it was burning.”

Of course, Nolan is commanding a historically awful defense in Dallas this season ... so there's plenty of fire/heat/burning/stinging jokes to be made here.

Conor McGregor's wish is evidently Jerry Jones' command ... the Cowboys owner says he's now "very open" to hosting the Notorious' next fight at his palace in Dallas!

"I'm a real admirer of his," Jerry said of McGregor on 105.3 "The Fan" on Friday. "He's one of the neatest individuals I think I've met. Period."

Conor said Wednesday he's accepted a UFC fight with Dustin Poirier for Jan. 23 ... and in his announcement, McGregor said he wanted the scrap to take place at AT&T Stadium.

And, when Jerry was asked about the possibility of making that happen ... the 78-year-old said he was more than down to try to make it work.

"[Conor] is special," Jerry said. "It would be quite a day for AT&T Stadium to have him."

Of course, the UFC has yet to officially cross the T's and dot the I's on the fight ... so selecting a location for the possible tilt is still a ways away.

But, if a deal is eventually made ... it could pave the way for thousands of fans to watch the fight in person.

Jerry's been operating Cowboys home games with roughly 25,000 people in attendance all season.

As for how Jones knows Conor so well ... you'll recall, he played host to the fighter at a Dallas game back in 2018 -- and everyone LOVED the guy there!!

So, do we officially have a fight AND a location now???

Joe Theismann sustained one of the most devastating injuries in NFL history ... and now the former star QB wants to help Dak Prescott recover from his gruesome ankle injury.

TMZ Sports talked to the former Washington signal-caller about 27-year-old Prescott's future ... after the Cowboys quarterback suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle during Sunday's game against the NY Giants.

"I felt so bad for [Prescott]. You hate to see anybody get hurt like that. Even though the team wasn't doing real well, Dak was having an incredible year, and I just pray that he's gonna come back."

Of course, Theismann's leg was snapped (he had a compound fracture of his tibia and fibula) by Lawrence Taylor during a "Monday Night Football" game in 1985 ... ending Joe's career.

JT's injury happened 8 years before Dak was even born ... but Joe knows what Prescott is going through, and he wants to help.

"I'd love to reach out to Dak," Theismann tells us.

"Matter fact, I put feelers out to see if it's a possibility that I might be able to just have a conversation with him and tell him no matter what you go through mentally, you're gonna get through this and you're gonna be okay."

Most importantly, Joe says he believes Prescott -- who underwent successful surgery Sunday night in TX -- will return to the field and continue to be one of the best QB's in the world.

"I don't know what The Cowboys are gonna do regarding the economics of his situation, but to me, I really don't care. I really care about Dak being able to come back and be the football player that he wants to be, and I know he's gonna be terrific."

Conor McGregor is back!!

The Irish superstar claims he IS fighting Dustin Poirier on January 23 ... and he says he wants the mega event to go down at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

The Notorious made the announcement on Twitter, writing ... "I accept, Jan 23rd is on!"

McGregor continued ... "My goal is to see this fight take place in Cowboy stadium. Proper Style! Jerry Jones is a friend and the stadium can hold our crowd. I will be ready for Texas and Texas will be ready for my fans!"

FYI, the UFC has not confirmed the news.

Remember, last week Conor expressed interest in fighting the 31-year-old, #2 ranked UFC Lightweight ... but with 1 very important caveat.

The fight had to be in 2020 ... which presented a problem 'cause it's already mid-October and most of the UFC's cards are already set.

Our UFC sources told us Dana White was willing to make the fight ... but it'd have to go down in January -- and it seems that's exactly what's going to happen.

Conor and Dustin have history ... the 2 men fought at UFC 178 in 2014. McGregor knocked out Poirier in the 1st round.

But, Dustin isn't the only guy Conor wants to put his hands on ... 'cause The Notorious says after Poirier, "Then Manny [Pacquiao]"

Dak Prescott is now recovering at home after he was discharged from the hospital Monday following a successful ankle surgery, the Cowboys say.

27-year-old Prescott was rushed into surgery Sunday night after suffering a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle while playing the NY Giants.

The Cowboys tapped doctor Gene Curry to perform the surgery -- which involved cleaning out the wound and repairing the break.

Sources have told various media outlets the surgery was a success -- and Prescott was discharged less than 24 hours after being admitted.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy told the media his QB is "in very good spirits."

"I know he's excited to get home and start the journey back, as you would expect from Dak, but he's doing OK."

There are reports Dak's recovery could take somewhere around 4 to 6 months -- but McCarthy noted, "As I've found out in my short time here, he's going to challenge any timeline."

Get well soon.

"His agent needs to be fired."

Ex-Dallas Cowboys player Jason Hatcher just went off on the Dak Prescott injury situation -- saying the QB's advisors should be ASHAMED for allowing him to play without a longterm contract.

"First of all, I wanna just send my prayers out to Dak," Hatcher said ... "[but] that young man and the team around him should have never allowed him to ever touch the field if he didn't have a longterm deal."

Prescott tried renegotiating a longterm deal with the Cowboys during the offseason, but ultimately agreed to play on a 1-year franchise tag deal that paid him $31.4 million guaranteed.

But, with Dak suffering that horrific ankle injury Sunday night, his future is in doubt ... and Hatcher is pointing the finger at Dak's agent, Todd France.

"There's no way in the world that his team should have allowed him to bet on himself during this situation," said Hatcher, a defensive lineman for the Cowboys from 2006 to 2013.

"He should've been in a comfortable situation with a longterm deal."

"Now, he's gotta start all back over again, rewind 4 years back when he came in as a rookie and prove himself all over again and he can play again and he can work through an injury or whatever."

Hatcher says if the Cowboys decide to cut Dak, fans shouldn't be upset with Jerry Jones because "there's no loyalty in business. It is business."

Class move from the biggest Philadelphia Eagles fan there is ...

12-year-old Giovanni Hamilton was so sad about the injury to Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, he shot a get-well message that'll hit you right in the feels.

Hamilton's story is pretty well known ... the way he's battled through 12 surgeries related to Schwartz-Jampel syndrome has inspired Eagles players like Carson Wentz and others.

Gio's condition has been described by his mom as a combo of muscular dystrophy and dwarfism. He's undergone surgical procedures on his hips, eyes, jaw and more.

So, when Gio -- who's an Eagles fan to the core -- found out about Dak's ankle, he fired up his camera Sunday to make a video for the injured QB.

"I just heard that Dak Prescott got hurt and you know, it sucks," Gio said.

"I’m the biggest eagles fan there is and you never wanna see that happen."

Gio added, "Even if it’s your most hated team, you never want to see that happen to anyone -- and you know Dak, I hope you see this, Brother, I hope you’re doing okay. I’ve been through a lot of pain but I can't even imagine. That looked like it really hurt."

Dak Prescott suffered a horrific season-ending injuring Sunday --snapping his ankle in the worst possible way, requiring emergency surgery.

The Dallas Cowboys QB was diagnosed with a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle. He was scheduled to undergo emergency surgery Sunday night.

It all went down during the 3rd quarter of the Dallas Cowboys vs. NY Giants game. Dak was tacked by Giants defensive back Logan Ryan and it was obvious he was badly hurt right away.

The Cowboys medical staff rushed over to evaluate him ... and once the camera got a close-up shot, it was clear he'd suffered a break, likely his ankle.

27-year-old Dak was squirming in pain. Medical personnel eventually got him on a cart and wheeled him off the field. The guy was in tears.

Andy Dalton replaced Dak at QB and led the Cowboys to a 37 to 34 victory. Afterward, Dak's close pal, Ezekiel Elliott, summed up the situation this way -- "It sucks."

He continued, "I know we won, it just sucks to lose Dak, our leader. And I was talking to the guys and it's going to take all of us. It's going to take all of us to fill that void that we're going to be missing from #4. Just gotta go out there and play for him."

Dak's brother posted an update from the hospital saying, "God is good, and he’ll be back STRONGER than ever."

"I F***ING guarante3 IT.  Let’s go @dak continue to walk by #FAITH & I’ll make sure you continue to #FIGHT."

Get well soon, man.

Logan Ryan also commented about the injury. It's obvious he feels awful about the situation, but injuries are part of the game.

"First and foremost, the worst thing that happened today was the Dak injury, it's bigger than football," Ryan said.

"I feel terrible, it was a routine football play ... You've got a guy, and I am in a similar position, he is scratching and clawing at one year on his deal to try and get rewarded, try to do the right thing, try to show up to work, try to lead his team, try to get a lucrative contract."

Devastating news for the Dallas Cowboys ... star offensive lineman Tyron Smith is set to undergo season-ending surgery for a scary neck injury.

Head coach Mike McCarthy made the announcement Friday ... and it's massive -- with some believing this move alone could end Dallas' hopes of a Super Bowl.

Tyron is considered one of the best left tackles in the sport ... and is widely viewed as a future Hall of Famer.

And, with the Cowboys already missing star right tackle La'el Collins due to a hip injury ... it ain't exactly like the team has depth to replace him.

Dallas is no stranger to missing Tyron from its lineups ... he's battled neck and back issues in the past -- but the Cowboys have notoriously struggled in games he hasn't played in.

As for Tyron's future post-surgery ... it's unclear if this could put his playing days in jeopardy.

The 6'5", 312-pound lineman is only 29 years old ... but he's already played in 133 career games and made 7 Pro Bowls.

Smith signed an 8-year, $97 MILLION contract with the Cowboys back in 2014.

"Knowing him, he'll be able to go right on through this and hopefully not miss a beat."

Jerry Jones doesn't seem worried about Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis ... he said Friday he's "very confident" POTUS will get through it all just fine.

In fact, the Dallas Cowboys owner says he's pretty sure #45 will still be able to do his job effectively over the coming days.

"No one in the world has the ability to handle this COVID any better than the office of the President of the United States," Jerry told 105.3 The Fan.

"I'm very confident that he'll be able to continue governing. I'm sure that he has anticipated this. Knowing him, he's the hardest worker you've ever seen."

Donald announced Thursday night he and Melania tested positive for the coronavirus and have already begun quarantining.

Trump is said to be only experiencing "mild" symptoms ... and he, too, seemed confident he'd beat the virus, adding in his official announcement, "We will get through this TOGETHER!"

Jerry and Trump have been friendly for years ... so Jones' support for the president comes as no surprise.

Ex-WWE star Ryback is threatening a legal war with Ezekiel Elliott ... claiming the Cowboys player has NO RIGHT to get a "Feed Me" trademark -- despite the RB's new tat.

"I'll tie him up for years," Ryback said this week. "He ain't using it. So he better get a good tattoo artist to go have him cover that sh*tty tattoo up on his stomach."

If you're unfamiliar, Ryback popularized the phrase "Feed Me More" during his time in the WWE -- and it became so big, crowds chanted it at arenas for YEARS.

Ryback claims he now owns the trademark for the phrase ... and when he heard Elliott applied for a similar "Feed Me" trademark this month, he was straight-up PISSED.

"This is exactly my phrase," Ryback said. "It's exactly. And it's the same meaning. And that will cause confusion."

Ryback says he believes Elliott -- a wrestling fanatic -- actually STOLE his whole "Feed Me" bit from watching him in the squared circle.

To be fair, this isn't anything new for Zeke ... he's been doing his "Feed Me" routine since he entered the NFL in 2016 -- and even got a massive tat on his belly to immortalize it this offseason.

Unclear how the trademark office will rule on the decision, but Ryback says he's more than willing to fight the legal battle against Elliott over the phrase.

In the meantime, he's slamming the NFL All-Pro for even attempting to make the move.

"I think it's low-life, scum sh*t, quite frankly," Ryback said ... "You're literally trying to latch onto somebody else's brand and then take it and make it your own."

Former Dallas Cowboys 1st-round pick Marcus Spears is going after a current player over a tackle he thought was dirty as hell ... calling the play straight-up "bullsh*t."

Here's the deal ... in the 4th quarter of the Cowboys' game against Seattle on Sunday -- defensive lineman Trysten Hill made an ankle-grabbing stop on 'Hawks star Chris Carson.

After the play, the RB was down on the ground in pain holding his knee ... and when the replay aired -- it wasn't hard to see Hill twisting the guy's leg well after he was down.

Spears saw the vid ... and went OFF on the Cowboys' starter -- saying, "This is a Code Breaker and Bullsh*t."

"There’s a Code that usually exists between players in the league as much as we wanna win."

Former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz added ... "This dude has some hurt coming his way next week for this gator roll. We see it on film."

Hill is expected to be fined by the league over the tackle ... NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

Carson, meanwhile, fortunately, isn't expected to miss much time with a knee sprain ... Rapoport added.