Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland is ready to get back into form.
Bland set an NFL record with 5 interceptions returned for touchdowns. But foot injuries derailed his 2024 and 2025 seasons. Bland said at Cowboys training camp Wednesday that he is feeling like his old self and is glad to be back out on the field with his teammates.
“Feeling good, real good right now,” he said before practice Wednesday. “I’m just ready to go. It’s been a long time coming for me, I feel like. [The] last time I played [was] December, being on the field. So [it] feels good to be out here.”
Bland was drafted by the Cowboys in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He exploded onto the scene as a rookie while filling in for starting nickel corner Jourdan Lewis. He appeared in 17 games with 8 starts in relief of Lewis. In that time, he racked up 54 total tackles, 7 passes defended, and 5 interceptions, the most by a Cowboys rookie since 2002.
In 2023, Bland entered the season third on the depth chart, but again won a starting job when Trevon Diggs went down for the season with an injury. He made the most of his opportunity, totaling 69 tackles, 15 pass defenses, and a league-leading 9 interceptions. He also set the NFL record with 5 pick-sixes in the 2023 season. He won a Pro Bowl selection and a First-Team All-Pro that season.
In 2024, he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot that held him out until mid-season. He started just 7 games and had 41 tackles, 5 passes defended, a forced fumble, and a recovery; he did not record an interception.
In 2025, he played just 12 games before another injury to the same foot ended his season and later required surgery. Despite this, he put up a career-high 73 tackles, 6 passes defended, an interception, and a pick-six.
“It was very frustrating, because it was also my first ever injury,” he said. “And [missing] games like that, it was real frustrating trying to get back on the field. And you know, I’m always one guy always trying to push himself to be better, and so it’s hard to take that step back sometimes.”
Fortunately for Bland, he said he was on limited reps but otherwise “full go.” He said he had no hiccups in his rehab from the surgery, and in fact feels much stronger than he had previously.
Having signed a 4-year, $90 million contract in 2025, Bland said he was motivated to prove himself to the team.
“Trying to get back to my real self and just be ready, feel comfortable … that’s really just go out there, do what I got to do, and just take it day by day,” he said.
Coming back in 2026, Bland also suddenly finds himself as the elder statesman of the Cowboys’ secondary. The Cowboys signed veteran strong safety Jalen Thompson from the Arizona Cardinals, cornerback Cobie Durant from the Los Angeles Rams, and free safety P.J. Locke from the Denver Broncos in free agency.
They drafted versatile safety/nickel defender Caleb Downs in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and corner Devin Moore in the fourth round; 2025 third-round pick Shavon Revel is also in something of a redshirt season after he missed most of his rookie year recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in college. The only other veterans on the depth chart are free safety Malik Hooker and backup safety Markquese Bell.
“It definitely came quick,” he said. “I’m only year five, but it feels good to be known as one of the guys some of the guys can come to, because it’s all my experience.”
Locke had a close call of his own Wednesday. During a full-team period, Locke backpedaled, then broke on the ball while defending a run play.
He lost his balance, then came up hopping on one leg and walking gingerly. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said it was a minor hyperextension and was held out of practice Thursday.
