FRISCO, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys strength and conditioning coordinator Markus Paul was rushed to a local hospital early Tuesday morning after experiencing a medical emergency, the team announced.

Paul, 54, is undergoing further medical tests, and additional information will be made available at the appropriate time, the family told the organization.

"The organization extends its prayers and support to the Paul family, and asks for friends and followers of Markus, his family and the team to keep them in their thoughts and prayers," the Cowboys said in a statement.

Shortly before 7:30 a.m. CT, Paul was treated by Cowboys medical personnel and transported to a local hospital by ambulance.

Coach Mike McCarthy told the players and staff about Paul's situation at an already-planned team meeting at 8:05 a.m. CT and that practice would be canceled. The Cowboys sent out a news release shortly before 10 a.m. CT saying there was "a non-COVID related medical emergency involving a staff member."

Players were supposed to have a shorter practice Tuesday in preparation for Thursday's game against the Washington Football Team and were scheduled to have an hour-long practice on Wednesday. They held a brief walk-through Monday.

Paul joined the Cowboys in 2018 as an assistant to Mike Woicik and was named the strength and conditioning coordinator upon McCarthy's arrival as coach. Paul played five years as a defensive back in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1989 to 1993 after four seasons at Syracuse, where he was a two-time All-American.

He entered the coaching ranks in 1998 with the New Orleans Saints and then spent five seasons with the New England Patriots' strength staff under Woicik from 2000 to 2004. In 2005 and '06, Paul was the director of physical development and head strength and conditioning coach for the New York Jets.

He spent 11 seasons with the New York Giants as an assistant strength coach before joining the Cowboys.