ARLINGTON — DaRon Bland rose to prominence while filling in for an injured Trevon Diggs.
Caelen Carson now finds himself with a similar opportunity.
The Cowboys defense suffered a significant blow before they even took the field for their preseason finale when it announced Saturday that Bland will undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot and is currently projected to be out six to eight weeks.
Bland began to experience discomfort in his foot during camp and informed the medical staff. Imaging revealed the stress fracture.
Bland moved into the starting lineup 11 months ago after Diggs was lost for the season with a torn ACL. He responded by returning five interceptions for touchdowns to set an NFL record.
The Cowboys coaching staff was excited by the prospect of Diggs and Bland playing in the same secondary, giving them one of the best pair of young corners in the league. That pairing will have to wait.
From the Cowboys: DaRon Bland experienced foot discomfort on Wednesday of last week during training camp in Oxnard. 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.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 24, 2024
Carson has looked good in training camp, good enough that the team moved on from Nahshon Wright. The fifth-round pick, who earned the nickname Seat Belt at Wake Forest for how he wrapped up receivers, is currently listed second on the depth chart at corner behind Bland.
Still, starting a rookie at the position is a big ask. Veteran Andrew Booth, who was acquired in the Wright trade, will also be in the mix.
Either way, Carson will be a big part of how the Cowboys fill the void going forward.
“I only know him as Seat Belt Carson,’’ quarterback Dak Prescott said recently. “Yeah, I’ve been impressed.
“He’s a guy that’s aggressive. He’s being coached the right way. He’s got some older guys to learn from in that room.
“He’s a guy who makes plays and knows when to take shots.’’
Catch David Moore with The Musers every Monday-Friday at 9:35 a.m. and on the Hardline every, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4:35 p.m. on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) during training camp.
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