The Dallas Cowboys traded one of their key defenders, edge defender Micah Parsons, to the Green Bay Packers on eve of the 2025 NFL season.
Now, the Cowboys are set to be without another one of their top defensive players, cornerback DaRon Bland, because of an injury.
Bland suffered a right foot injury at Dallas’ practice on Monday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. The injury is expected to keep Bland out of action for ‘a couple of weeks.’
Bland, 26, is in his fourth season with the Cowboys. The Fresno State product was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft but quickly became a key playmaker in Dallas’ secondary. He logged a league-high nine interceptions in 2023 and was named an All-Pro first-teamer because of his success.
Last season, Bland played just seven games after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot in August. The Cowboys did not specify at the time which foot Bland had hurt, so it isn’t clear whether his latest injury is related to the one he suffered in 2024.
The Cowboys will continue to use Trevon Diggs and Kaiir Elam as their top outside cornerbacks, but the nickel role will be up for grabs with Bland out. Veteran C.J. Goodwin or recent waiver wire claims Reddy Steward and Trikweze Bridges are the top candidates to take on that role for the Cowboys.
Bland recorded three tackles in the Cowboys’ 24-20 Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He signed a four-year, $92 million extension with Dallas on eve of the 2025 NFL season.