Cowboys' Injury Woes Mount as Season Winds Down, Bland Out for the Year
With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread - and we’re talking less than one percent - the Dallas Cowboys are still approaching these final three games like they matter. And to the players and coaches inside that locker room, they absolutely do.
Whether it’s pride, development, or setting a tone for next season, Dallas is pushing forward with a “finish strong” mentality. But on Friday, that resolve took a hit.
All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland will miss the remainder of the season after re-aggravating a foot injury that never fully went away. It’s the same left foot that cost him 10 games earlier in 2024, when he had surgery to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal. Now, it’s acting up again - and the team’s medical staff has recommended another surgery.
“This was a lingering one,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “When we got it imaged, it was like, ‘OK, there’s something there.’ That’s why we’re doing it.”
Bland is reportedly seeking a second opinion before going under the knife again, but the expectation is that he won’t be back until 2026. It’s a tough blow for a player who’s been one of the league’s top ballhawks when healthy. For Dallas, it’s another major piece of the secondary shelved in a season that’s been full of them.
And he’s not the only one. Safety Juanyeh Thomas, who’s been on the non-football injury list since Nov. 11 due to persistent migraine issues, has also been ruled out for the rest of the year. That’s another young defensive back with upside who won’t see the field again in 2025.
Injury Questions Pile Up Ahead of Chargers Matchup
The Cowboys are set to close out their home slate on Sunday with a noon kickoff at AT&T Stadium against the Los Angeles Chargers. But the injury report heading into the weekend reads more like a laundry list - and it’s not all clean.
Starting left tackle Tyler Guyton is officially out, missing his fourth straight game with a high ankle sprain. That’s a key absence on the offensive line, especially with the Cowboys trying to keep their offense on track in these final weeks.
On the defensive side, there’s a bit of optimism. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and fullback Hunter Luepke are both listed as questionable after sustaining concussions last week, but Schottenheimer said both are trending in the right direction.
“I would say both guys are tracking positively for Sunday,” he noted.
Then there’s the situation with Trevon Diggs, who’s nearing the end of his 21-day practice window. The team has until Saturday to make a call: activate him to the 53-man roster or shut him down for the rest of the season. With Bland expected to hit IR, there’s a roster spot available - but it all depends on how Diggs finishes the practice week.
“Diggs is having a very good week,” Schottenheimer said. “What I’ve loved about him is he’s having fun playing football. He’s smiling and running around.”
That’s an encouraging sign for a player who’s battled his way back from injury and could provide a late-season spark in a depleted secondary.
CeeDee Lamb Off the Injury Report, Others Still in Question
One bright spot: star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is good to go. He missed practice earlier in the week due to illness but returned on Friday and was removed from the injury report altogether.
“He’s been under the weather,” Schottenheimer said. “But he’s better. He’ll get some work [on Friday].”
Several other Cowboys are listed as questionable, but expectations for their availability are mixed. Cornerback Josh Butler (knee), defensive lineman Payton Turner (ribs), and running back Phil Mafah (shoulder) all returned to practice this week for the first time this season, but none are expected to suit up on Sunday.
Cornerback Caelen Carson is also questionable with shoulder and hamstring issues. According to a team source, he’s shaping up to be a true game-time decision.
Final Stretch, Final Test
The Cowboys know the odds are stacked against them, but they’re not mailing it in. There’s still value in these final three games - for young players earning reps, for veterans proving they belong, and for a coaching staff evaluating what pieces they’ll carry into 2026.
The injuries are piling up, no doubt. But so is the resolve to finish what they started.