ARLINGTON, Texas – The Cowboys dealt a major blow to their defense on Saturday when they announced running back Daron Bland will be out six to eight weeks with a stress fracture in his foot that will require surgery. Bland, who led the league with nine punt returns last year, including an NFL record five, suffered the injury late in Oxnard’s training camp. Tests showed it was a stress fracture that would keep the Pro Bowl cornerback out for two months. The Cowboys released the following statement:DaRon Bland injured his foot during training camp in Oxnard last Wednesday. A later photo showed a stress fracture in the leg. He will undergo surgery to repair the injury and is expected to be out for six to eight weeks.
Without Bland, the Cowboys have a huge hole at the quarterback position. Especially with Trevon Diggs coming back from an ACL injury that could force him to miss most of the 2023 season. DIGgs are back at practice, but the Cowboys have limited his reps. The cornerbacks include Diggs, veterans Jourdan Lewis and Andrew Booth, rookie Kalen Carson and second-year specialist Eric Scott. Others on the list include Kemon Hall, Josh DeBerry, Josh Butler and C.J. Goodwin, who plays most of the time on special teams.
