NFC East: Cowboys will be without All-Pro corner for 6-8 weeks

The Dallas Cowboys will start their season without one of their All-Pro cornerbacks.

Per multiple reports, CB DaRon Bland sustained a stress fracture in his foot and will undergo surgery. Bland is expected to be out for 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

Bland has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier ballhawks, snagging 14 interceptions over his first two seasons. He set an NFL record with five returned INTs for touchdowns last year, earning himself first-team All-Pro honors.

The 2022 fifth-round pick stepped up mightily when Trevon Diggs suffered a season-ending ACL tear last September, and Dallas hoped to enter the season with both of their top corners at full strength.

With Stephon Gilmore signing elsewhere, the Cowboys will now look to Caelen Carson or the newly acquired Andrew Booth Jr. to fill Bland’s void.

It’s been a relatively uneventful offseason for Jerry Jones, with CeeDee Lamb’s holdout being the main storyline. Factor in Dak Prescott’s looming contract situation and now DaRon Bland’s injury — things will likely get worse before they get better in Dallas.

RECORD-BREAKIN' BLAND 🗣️👑@DaRon_Bland | 📺 CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/qIfaBJIoqw

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 24, 2023

Mandatory Credit: Getty Images