The Dallas Cowboys’ secondary, once touted as a defensive powerhouse, has been plagued by injuries and underperformance throughout the 2025 season. With high expectations pinned on their star cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs—whose combined contracts total a staggering $190 million—the team has instead grappled with one of the league’s weakest pass defenses. Now, just ahead of Week 16, devastating news has emerged about Bland, casting a shadow over the Cowboys’ already tumultuous campaign.
On Thursday, reports surfaced that cornerback DaRon Bland is facing a second surgery on his left foot in as many years, according to multiple sources. Bland, who is seeking a second opinion, has not practiced this week, and no surgery has been scheduled yet. However, even without the procedure, he is likely headed to injured reserve with only three games remaining in the season. This bombshell, shared by ESPN’s Todd Archer on X, underscores the ongoing struggles for Bland, who has been unable to recapture his elite form from 2023.
Bland’s troubles began last August when he initially injured his foot just before the 2024 season, requiring surgery that sidelined him for 10 games. In the seven games he played that year, his performance dipped significantly from his breakout 2023 season, where he earned All-Pro honors, notched nine interceptions, and set an NFL record with five pick-sixes. Quarterbacks targeting him in 2023 posted a mere 60.8 passer rating, but that ballooned to 105.7 in 2024.
The Cowboys rewarded Bland’s 2023 dominance with a lucrative four-year, $92 million extension in August of this year. Yet, the lingering foot issues have hampered him in 2025. Across 12 games, he’s allowed a 103.3 passer rating when targeted, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 65.2—ranking him 41st out of 112 cornerbacks. This is a far cry from his 89.5 grade in 2023, when he was the No. 2-rated corner in the league.
The uncertainty surrounding Bland’s recovery raises questions about his long-term future with the Cowboys. A second surgery on the same foot could jeopardize his ability to return to peak performance, echoing the challenges faced by his counterpart, Trevon Diggs.
Diggs, a Pro Bowler in 2021 and 2022, signed a $97 million deal but has not been the same since tearing his left ACL in 2023. This season has been particularly chaotic for Diggs, marked by complaints about the offense, a concussion from a mysterious home accident, and now rehabilitation for his right knee—the opposite of his previous injury. Despite Diggs insisting he’s healthy, the team has held him out, with coach Brian Schottenheimer stating he hasn’t shown enough in practice to warrant a return.
Diggs expressed his frustration, noting he wasn’t informed of his Week 15 benching until the day before the game: “Yesterday, I was told I wasn’t playing, so that’s why I thought that I was playing. It was a quick decision, I didn’t know. I thought I was going to come out here and play, but they felt otherwise.”
The Bland situation may influence how the Cowboys handle Diggs, potentially granting him more leeway to return as the team scrambles to bolster its secondary. With both cornerbacks underperforming or sidelined, Dallas’s defense has faltered, turning what was expected to be a strength into a glaring weakness.
As the Cowboys prepare for Week 16, this injury news to Bland not only ends his 2025 season but also forces the front office to confront tough decisions about their high-priced defensive backs moving forward. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Diggs can step up in Bland’s absence or if more changes are on the horizon for America’s Team.