Pro Football Rumors
After undergoing left foot surgery in January, Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland was limited during spring workouts. Now, four weeks from training camp, Bland says his foot has healed, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. He is expected to be a full participant when the Cowboys begin camp on July 29.
Last season was the second straight injury-shortened year for Bland, whose problems began when he fractured his left foot in 2024. That injury held Bland to seven games and zero interceptions, but it did not stop the Cowboys from handing him a four-year, $92MM extension a few days before last season opened.
Dallas’ defense went on to endure immense struggles in 2025, and Bland’s ongoing health troubles contributed to the unit’s issues. Injuries to both feet led to a 12-game campaign for Bland, who pulled in one INT and yielded a 103.3 passer rating on 77 targets.
While Bland’s previous two seasons were disappointing, he is not far removed from establishing himself as an elite ball hawk. During a 17-game rookie year in 2022, Bland picked off five passes and held QBs to an 82.2 rating on 63 targets. Bland’s stock continued to rise over another full season in 2023, in which he nabbed a league-high nine INTs and gave up a paltry 60.8 rating on 84 targets. He earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for his efforts.
Since ranking dead last in scoring defense last year, the Cowboys have brought in several outsiders to upgrade the unit. That includes former Rams corner Cobie Durant, who will compete with Shavon Revel to start opposite Bland. They also replaced the beleaguered Matt Eberflus with rookie defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who had successful stints as a defensive backs coach in Denver (2021-23) and Philadelphia (2024-25). If Bland returns to form under Parker, it would go a long way toward the Cowboys orchestrating a defensive turnaround and returning to contention after two down years in a row.
