Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland likely will need another surgery on his left foot — the same one that sidelined him for 10 games last season, head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Friday.
“These things happen sometimes when you get your foot fixed and things like that,” Schottenheimer said on 105.3 The Fan. “It’s just something where it kind of over time wore down. It’s unfortunate for DaRon, but he’s such a great competitor. He and I have had multiple conversations since we found out. He understands the journey that he has to go upon again, but he’s gonna do a great job and come back better than before.
“… It’s one of those situations where it comes and goes, and at the end of the day, when you go and look at it, you see there’s something we need to go in and fix surgically. That starts the process of a long rehab.”
Schottenheimer said he expects the All-Pro cornerback to be ready to contribute in training camp.
Signed to a four-year, $92 million extension that included a $22 million signing bonus, Bland recorded 73 tackles and one interception returned for a touchdown in 12 games (all starts) this season.
Bland, 26, was a first-team All-Pro in 2023 when he led the NFL with nine interceptions and returned five of them for touchdowns. He made 69 tackles and defended 15 passes in 17 games that season.
In four seasons since the Cowboys made him a fifth-round pick in 2022 NFL Draft out of Fresno State, Bland has appeared in 53 games (42 starts). He has 15 interceptions, 237 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 33 defended passes.
