Cowboys Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for the start of the upcoming 2024 NFL season, it sounds like the team is going to have to make plans to be without one of their most important players for the start of the season.

On Saturday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys announced that All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland will miss the start of the season as a result of a stress fracture that is expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks.

“DaRon Bland experienced foot discomfort on Wednesday of last week during training camp in Oxnard,” the Cowboys said in a statement according to Pro Football Talk. “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.”

This is obviously a massive blow for the Cowboys as Bland is one of the team’s most important playmakers and gamebreakers on the defensive side of the ball. Last season, Bland led the entire league with nine interceptions and 209 interception return yards and set a new NFL record by returning five of those interceptions for a touchdown.

The Cowboys will undoubtedly be hoping for a quick recovery from their All-Pro corner.

[Pro Football Talk]