The Dallas Cowboys suffered a severe blow when losing DaRon Bland right before the 2024 season.
Bland will undergo surgery after suffering a stress fracture in his foot. Last year’s breakout star is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Dallas hoped to boast one of the league’s most formidable cornerback duos when pairing Bland with a returning Trevon Diggs, who tore his ACL two games into the 2023 campaign. It appears Jerry Jones hopes someone will follow Bland’s path and fill the void internally.
The Cowboys owner emphatically said the team isn’t seeking outside help at cornerback.
“Not at all, not in any way,” Jones said, per team reporter Nick Harris. “Not at all. The good news is that we have some guys that have played well in camp. We won’t be looking at all.”
For the second straight year, the Cowboys are down an All-Pro cornerback early.
Bland rose to prominence last season when returning an NFL-record five of his league-leading nine interceptions for touchdowns. The former fifth-round pick allowed a 60.8 passer rating in coverage, per Pro Football Reference.
Rather than scour the trade or free-agent market, the Cowboys will rely on Diggs and Jourdan Lewis to lead the secondary in Bland’s absence. Andrew Booth, Eric Scott, or rookie Caelen Carson could slide into a more prominent September role.
Carson has particularly earned praise within the organization. Jones endorsed the No. 174 pick as an immediate candidate to replace Bland.
“I like that he’s playing at the level that he is,” Jones said. “He’s certainly going to get a great opportunity to fill in here.”
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