Cowboys expected to get All-Pro defender back from injury vs. Packers

Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland is on track to return from a foot injury on Sunday in the team’s week four matchup against the Green Bay Packers, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

“Yeah, I think he’s doing good,” Schottenheimer said Monday. “I think he’s trending to playing.”

After starting the season opener, Bland has missed the past two games with a foot injury suffered in a practice on Sept. 8. The team expected a relatively quick recovery and made the decision to not place him on injured reserve, which would have knocked him out of four games.

Bland is expected to return to the practice field Wednesday morning as he works back to playing speed in the coming days.

“I don’t want to get out over skis here,” owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan. “But it’s a good possibility we’ll have [Bland].”

Despite missing the first 10 games of the 2024 season to a separate foot injury, Bland was given an extension by the team on Aug. 31 for four years, $92 million, which made him one of the highest-paid players at his position across the NFL.

In 2023, Bland set the NFL record for most interception returns for a touchdown in a season with five, along with his league-leading nine total interceptions. He did not record an interception in 2024 in seven games and did not record one in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

He is expected to rejoin a secondary that is in dire need of a boost after giving up 450 passing yards in Week 2 to Giants quarterback Russell Wilson and 298 passing yards to Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on Sunday. The Cowboys are last in the NFL in pass yards allowed per game (288) and 27th in points allowed per game (30.7).

Cowboys down three starters

Compared to when he left the lineup two weeks ago, Bland will return to a Cowboys team that is now down three additional starters — all on the offensive side of the ball. Center Cooper Beebe suffered a lateral ankle sprain and foot fracture against the Giants and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and right guard Tyler Booker suffered high ankle sprains against the Bears and are expected to miss 2-3 weeks and 4-6 weeks, respectively.

However, Bland will return to a defense that is adding veteran defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. After being signed just days before the team’s matchup against the Bears, he was made inactive while he ramps back up to game speed. As a result, he will make his debut with the team against the Packers.

This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 9:51 PM.