With All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland expected to miss 6–8 weeks due to a stress fracture in his foot, the Dallas Cowboys defense has suffered a serious blow.
Due to the injury, which happened close to the conclusion of Oxnard’s training camp, Dallas said on Saturday that Bland might miss up to two months of play following surgery.
Bland, who set a record with five interceptions returned for touchdowns last season and led the NFL with nine interceptions overall, experienced foot pain during practice on Wednesday.
The decision to proceed with surgery was made after additional imaging confirmed the stress fracture. According to a statement from the Cowboys, Bland should fully recover in six to eight weeks.
Cowboys CB Daron Bland to undergo surgery to repair stress fracture in foot, will miss 6-8 weeks. pic.twitter.com/LUnkUMO4yy
— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2024
With Trevon Diggs still recovering from an ACL surgery that sidelined him for the most of the 2023 season, the Cowboys’ secondary is severely compromised by this setback.
Although Diggs has resumed practicing, the team has exercised caution and limited his reps while he recovers. The Cowboys’ depth at cornerback will be put to the test with Bland’s absence. Diggs, Jourdan Lewis, and recent recruits Andrew Booth,
Caelen Carson, and Eric Scott, a second-year player, make up the team currently. Kemon Hall, Josh DeBerry, Josh Butler, and special teams star C.J. Goodwin are also on the roster.
Bland’s injury leaves Cowboys secondary shorthanded for 2024 season
The Cowboys’ decision to proceed without veteran CB Stephon Gilmore, who joined with Minnesota this offseason, makes Bland’s absence especially difficult.
Dallas will now need to look farther down their depth chart for a replacement, since they had anticipated depending on Bland and Diggs as their top corners this season.
Potential stand-ins for Bland include Andrew Booth, who was acquired via trade in early August, and fifth-round pick Caelen Carson. A player of Bland’s caliber being lost is a big blow to the Cowboys, who looked to him to be a vital component of their defense.
The squad may need to take action to strengthen their secondary in order to get ready for the 2024 campaign after an atypically quiet summer.
