FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys enter a critical Week 9 contest against the Atlanta Falcons with health concerns.
Starting cornerback Trevon Diggs showed up on the injury report with a right calf injury and didn’t practice. DaRon Bland, the projected starting corner who hasn’t played this season with a stress fracture in his foot, also missed practice. But Bland was moved to the 53-man roster from injured reserve Wednesday. Bland’s 21-day practice window ended so the Cowboys had to make a decision.
To clear room for Bland, the Cowboys placed cornerback Amani Oruwariye on injured reserve with a lower back injury. Oruwariye suffered the injury last week against the 49ers.
Bland has been out since late August, and there was a thought he would return sooner.
“I think that’s why, I know personally, I always avoid timelines,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I’m not in those specific meetings, and every injury is different. Every individual is different. We’re not going to put him out there until he’s ready to go. We’re being smart about it, which you need to be for what he’s experiencing right now.
“We just want to make sure he’s ready to go when it’s time to cut him loose.”
The injury to Diggs isn’t on the same leg where he underwent surgery for a torn ACL last year.
“I feel good. I had some tightness in my calf, a little sore coming out of the game,” he said. “Probably one of the plays I got hit or something but it’s just really stiff. Just getting treatment and working through it.”
Also, edge rusher Micah Parsons (ankle), defensive tackle Linval Joseph (back), right guard Zack Martin (shoulder), linebacker Nick Vigil (foot) and kicker Brandon Aubrey (jury duty) didn’t practice.
Aubrey is expected to return to practice Thursday as the court case he was a juror in has concluded.
Linebacker Eric Kendricks (shoulder) was limited in practice.
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