DaRon Bland undergoes surprise foot surgery as Cowboys injury curse continues

I don't mean to downplay Sam Williams' season-ending knee injury, but the Dallas Cowboys did a good job of avoiding a series of devastating injuries in training camp and the preseason, but that streak ended in the form of a massive punch to the gut just before kickoff of Sunday's final preseason game.

Star cornerback DaRon Bland will reportedly be out 6-8 weeks with a stress fracture in his foot that will require surgery. Bland reported pain during the last practice of camp on Wednesday. Further tests confirmed the fracture.

The injury affects the fifth metatarsal bone of Bland's foot, according to ESPN's Todd Archer, who reported that DeMarcus Lawrence missed 10 games and Dez Bryant missed six games with similar injuries. However, Lawrence and Bryant's injuries were complete fractures, not a stress fracture. That could indicate Bland will return sooner than expected, but it's obviously far too early to speculate.

This is a huge blow for the Cowboys, who now have a large hole at cornerback. That's not even taking into account Trevon Diggs' return from ACL surgery. Although Diggs has been practicing for weeks, his appearances in team practices have been limited and he hasn't played a single snap in the preseason.

Bland's injury will also put a spotlight on freshman Caelen Carson. Carson, a fifth-round pick out of Wake Forest, has been a star in training camp and the preseason. He looks like the Cowboys' latest late-round steal at cornerback, but you never expected him to be in the starting lineup as a freshman in Week 1.

Assuming Bland begins the season on the injured list, the Cowboys have room for an additional cornerback. That could mean both Andrew Booth and Israel Mukuamu making the roster. It could also free up a spot for migrant worker Kemon Hall, who had a pick-six last Sunday against the Raiders.

Regardless, Bland's injury is just one example of the Cowboys' brutal injury luck at the cornerback position. Despite being blessed with numerous elite CBs throughout their history, they never seem to be able to field two healthy stars at the same time.

Last year, Diggs was out after Dallas signed Stephon Gilmore to form the NFL's best cornerback group. In 1995, both Deion Sanders (nine games) and Kevin Smith (one game) were injured. They won the Super Bowl anyway, but the point still stands. In 2005, Anthony Henry missed some time while playing alongside Terence Newman. It's a recurring theme in the franchise's history.

Even though Bland may only miss the first month of the season, it's legitimate to be concerned about the domino effect his absence will have on the secondary.

How good is Bland when he returns? Is Diggs ready for a full workload? Is Carson ready for the moment? These are worrying thoughts with the Week 1 opener just two weeks away.

More news and analysis on the Cowboys