A group that has been victimized all year in the passing game, the Cowboys’ corners have had to rely on a rotating cast of characters, with Trevon Diggs not seeing the field since Week 6 and highly touted rookie Shavon Revel Jr. having to wait until mid-November to make his professional debut.
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It looks like the confusion will continue through the final three games of the regular season as well, as All-Pro DaRon Bland now faces his second foot surgery in as many years.
The fourth-year cornerback and single-season pick-six king previously missed Weeks 2 and 3 earlier this season with a foot injury, although it was not the same foot he fractured in 2024 training camp. That episode kept Bland out of the lineup until Week 12 of last season.
Bland, who signed a four-year, $92 million extension in August, was listed as a non-participant in both Wednesday and Thursday practices due to the latter issue.
The 26-year-old is reportedly seeking a second opinion and no surgery has been scheduled at the time of writing.
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But with the Cowboys almost officially out of playoff contention, the team would seemingly have little incentive to play him for the final three games of the schedule; The expected move to injured reserve would end Bland’s season immediately.
While Bland’s absence could theoretically open the door for Diggs to be reactivated following his knee injury, his long-term future with the Cowboys is a big question mark. Playing Diggs would carry a substantial financial risk if he were to get hurt. If the organization has decided internally to move on from Diggs during the offseason, there would be no reason to expose the oft-injured two-time Pro Bowler to a potentially costly setback that the Cowboys would be in trouble for.
Given Bland’s sensational 2023 season, when he led the league in interceptions and set a new record for most picks returned for touchdowns in a season, he and Diggs were expected to form a formidable tandem at cornerback in Dallas for years to come.
However, thanks to injuries to both players, the two have appeared together in just seven games over the last three seasons.
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Josh Butler, who just opened his evaluation window this week after a lengthy knee rehab, could be elevated to the game-day roster in time for Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers.
Caelen Carson is another option, although he has also been limited in practice this week with a shoulder injury and hamstring issue. Revel has shown promise in five appearances, but is dealing with knee soreness. Trikweze Bridges and Corey Ballentine are also on the active roster; Zion Childress waits on the practice squad.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Report: Cowboys CB DaRon Bland faces another possible foot surgery