Dallas Cowboys helmet (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dallas Cowboys have suffered a huge setback ahead of the upcoming season as star cornerback DaRon Bland is set to miss the start of the term and could be out for up to two months due to injury.

Bland, who led the NFL in interceptions last season, having made nine picks, is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks, with the team revealing that the 25-year-old is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot and is set to undergo surgery.

“The Cowboys suffered a big blow to the defense on Saturday with the announcement of DaRon Bland being out 6-8 weeks with a stress fracture in his foot, which will require surgery,” a statement from the team’s official website notes.

“Bland, who led the league in interceptions last year with nine, including an NFL-record five returned for touchdowns, suffered the injury towards the end of training camp in Oxnard. Test revealed the stress fracture, which will likely shelf the Pro Bowl corner for two months.”

DaRon Bland is understood to have experienced some discomfort in his foot during training camp last week, with scans later catching a stress fracture.

“DaRon Bland experienced foot discomfort on Wednesday of last week during training camp in Oxnard,” the team said. “Subsequent imaging revealed a stress fracture in his foot. He will undergo surgery to repair the injury and is currently projected to be out for 6-8 weeks.”

DaRon Bland’s Absence Should Be Huge For The Cowboys

DaRon Bland is a major part of the Cowboys’ defense, and his absence should come as a severe blow to the team.

As mentioned above, the 2022 fifth-round pick led the league with nine INTs. He set a record by returning five for touchdowns while leading the league in interception return yards with 209.

The CB was a first-team All-Pro selection and finished fifth in the voting for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Rookie Caelen Carson, also a fifth-round pick, should step in as a replacement while Bland is out.