Pro Bowl cornerback DaRon Bland faces a second foot surgery, sparking concern for the Cowboys despite his recent Pro Bowl and extension.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have been vocal about how their job opening at defensive coordinator should be a coveted position because despite the record-setting failure of that unit in 2025, the Cowboys defense boasts “good bones.”
But one of the named attractions - Pro Bowl cornerback DaRon Bland - actually sort of has “bad bones”… and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been blunt about expressing his long-term concerns there.
Bland, 26, underwent surgery on his left foot on Tuesday, as first noted by ESPN. The procedure was performed in Indianapolis by Dr. David Porter, a member of the Colts medical staff.
The optimistic plan is for Bland to participate at some level in the offseason program. More realistically, him being ready for training camp in Oxnard would represent a perfectly fine plus.
But Jones - who uttered the “good bones” line because the Cowboys believe Quinnen Williams on the D-line, DeMarvion Overshown at linebacker and Bland in the secondary are drawing cards for whomever is hired to replace deposed coordinator Matt Eberflus - is expressing some concern here.
"I'm not a doctor... but I don't like that at all," Jones recently said. "I don't like the sound of that. You have to watch feet, relative to the future."
The major worry? This latest surgery marks the second straight year that Bland has had a procedure done on that same left foot.
When healthy, Bland - known for his NFL-record five pick-6's in 2023 - is one of the NFL's top defensive playmakers. And in August, he was rewarded for that as the Cowboys signed the then-All-Pro to a four-year, $92 million extension.
Regrets? Jones and the Cowboys swear they remain comfortable with the move.
"He has been everything you could ask for relative to his rehab, relative to his (competitiveness)," Jones said. "He's done the best that he's had to work with as it turns out with his injury. He's thumbs-up.''
So, as it regards Bland, the Cowboys sort of want it both ways: They don't have regrets. But they do have worries.