DaRon Bland could miss multiple weeks after right foot injury, Cowboys say
Star cornerback was seen in a walking boot days after suffering the injury in practice; absence compounds defensive losses after Micah Parsons trade
Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland could be sidelined “for a couple of weeks” after suffering a right foot injury during practice, multiple reports said Wednesday.
ESPN reported the expected timeline, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said Bland, 26, was seen wearing a walking boot at the team facility on Wednesday. The injury occurred during a Monday practice, according to those accounts.
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Bland’s injury comes fewer than two weeks after he signed a four-year, $92 million contract extension with the Cowboys ahead of the 2025 season. The deal included $50 million guaranteed and an average annual value of $23 million, making him among the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league.
A fourth-year pro, Bland was a fifth-round pick by Dallas in 2022 out of Fresno State. He received Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2023 after recording nine interceptions for 209 return yards, including a franchise-record five pick-sixes that season. Last year he missed the Cowboys’ first 10 games with an injury and did not record an interception in the seven games after returning.
Bland’s potential absence adds to the challenges facing the Cowboys’ defense. Dallas lost edge rusher Micah Parsons in a surprise trade to the Green Bay Packers in August, a move that already altered the team’s front-seven plans.
The Cowboys opened the season with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Thursday and are scheduled to host the New York Giants this Sunday. They will travel to Chicago in Week 3 and are set to host the Packers — and Parsons — in Week 4.
The team has not released a detailed medical update or an official timetable for Bland’s return. Coaches typically provide fuller injury reports as game days approach. Bland’s status for the upcoming game against the Giants is likely to be monitored through the team’s injury report later this week.
Bland’s contract extension, recent medical history and role as a starting cornerback underscore the significance of the injury for Dallas’ secondary. The club’s defensive plans will need to account for his availability as it navigates early-season matchups and adjusts to roster changes made during the offseason.
The Cowboys face a short turnaround this week; the team’s official injury report and any updates on Bland’s condition are expected in the days leading to Sunday’s game in Dallas.