DaRon Bland’s Return: Could He Be the Key to Reviving the Cowboys’ Defense?

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Oct 10, 2024, 03:20 IST

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The Dallas Cowboys placed cornerback DaRon Bland on injured reserve with a chance to return in 21 days. Bland's probable return this week against the Lions is crucial for the Cowboys' defense, which has struggled this season. However, defensive end Marshawn Kneeland's knee injury poses a new challenge for the team.

DaRon Bland’s Return: Could He Be the Key to Reviving the Cowboys’ Defense?

Image via ESPN

The Dallas Cowboys placed cornerback DaRon Bland on injured reserve with a designation to return, which creates a 21-day window for him either to report to the active roster or go to season-ending IR.

Bland's Probability of Returning This Week

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones has all hope for Bland's return this week. "I think DaRon Bland has a real shot at playing this Sunday against the Detroit Lions," Jones said to reporters.Though not likely to carry the entire game, Jones does say that Bland is ready to roll and contribute on defense. He added: "Short of a real setback, DaRon should be ready to dress and help us on the defensive side of the ball and the secondary."
Bland's return could be a huge pickup for a Dallas defense which has surrendered 24.2 points per game this season and ranks tied for 23rd in the NFL. Perhaps most importantly, he'll have an explosive matchup against the Lions this week, so his play could come at the right time.
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Bland's Impressive Performance

Bland, at the tender age of 25, put together a stellar second season in 2023, reaching 69 tackles, 15 passes defensed, and a league-high nine interceptions, five of which he returned for touchdowns.

The Cornerback Duo: Bland and Diggs

The Cowboys have a great, skilled cornerback duo in both Bland and Trevon Diggs. Diggs tallied one this season while tallying 19 in his career. 11 of those came in one breakout season in 2021. Injury has limited their time together on the field.

Defense Had Its Collective Lows: Marshawn Kneeland to IR

Bland returns but so does the cost as defensive end Marshawn Kneeland is on the injured reserve list with a knee injury. A blow to the unit that was already thinned with DeMarcus Lawrence and the Lisfranc injury that has sidelined him.

Cowboys vs. Lions Betting Lines

As the Cowboys get ready to face the Lions in their next game, the aggregation of polling about the odds tells a pretty tight game with the Lions only minimally favored over the Cowboys. How will the team adjust to this, as it continues in its efforts to solidify its defense?
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About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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