The Dallas Cowboys will begin the regular season without a key defensive starter. The team announced Saturday that star cornerback DaRon Bland will miss a significant period of time due to an injury suffered this past week in training camp.
With Trevon Diggs returning from an ACL injury, the loss of Bland leaves a hole in an already questionable Dallas secondary. The Pro Bowler will be forced to watch from the sidelines as another member of his cornerback room attempts to fill his spot for the time being.
Here's everything to know about Bland's injury, including an update on the Cowboys All-Pro cornerback's foot issue that will cost him several weeks after surgery.
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DaRon Bland injury update
The Cowboys announced Saturday: "DaRon Bland experienced foot discomfort on Wednesday of last week during training camp in Oxnard. Subsequent imaging revealed a stress fracture in his foot."
Bland, who led the league with nine interceptions last year, will need surgery for the injury. The news is not what Dallas fans were hoping to hear ahead of the team's final preseason matchup against the Chargers, but there's hope he will return during the regular season.
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When will DaRon Bland return?
Additionally, the team predicts that Bland will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks after undergoing surgery for the stress fracture. While certain he will miss the first half of the regular season, it's possible Bland could be getting first-team reps around two months from now.
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Cowboys CB depth chart
Among the viable replacements for Bland that are already on the Cowboys are veteran C.J. Goodwin and rookie Caelen Carson. Goodwin only appeared in five games for Dallas last season but has been a consistent contributor on the team's defense since 2019.
Carson has yet to be tested after being picked from Wake Forest in the fifth round of the 2024 Draft by Dallas. He made 42 total tackles in 11 games his junior season before turning pro. Additionally, it's worth mentioning the team also has time to trade for someone to fill Bland's spot or make a free agent signing before Week 1.
Here's a look at the most recent iteration of the Cowboys depth chart.
| Position | First | Second | Third |
| Cornerback | Trevon Diggs | C.J. Goodwin | Eric Scott Jr. |
| Nickel cornerback | Jourdan Lewis | Kemon Hall | Josh DeBerry |
| Cornerback | DaRon Bland | Caelen Carson | Josh Butler |