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Cowboys $90 Million All-Pro Cleared to Return in Week 4 After Foot Injury

The Dallas Cowboys finally received the good news they’ve been waiting for. After two weeks on the sideline, their All-Pro cornerback has been cleared to return and will suit up in Week 4.

DaRon Bland is officially back. Team doctors confirmed he has fully recovered from the foot injury that sidelined him, and he will reclaim his spot in the starting lineup just in time for a crucial matchup.

His absence was glaring. In Week 1 against the Eagles, Dallas allowed just 144 passing yards with Bland on the field. But over the next two games without him, the defense surrendered a staggering 720 yards through the air.

Bland, who led the NFL with nine interceptions and five pick-sixes in 2023, signed a four-year, $90 million contract earlier this month with $49.3 million guaranteed. Now, the Cowboys’ investment gets its chance to pay off again.

 

The cornerback had re-injured the same foot that cost him most of the 2024 season, but this time, his recovery progressed faster than expected. Medical clearance came this week, paving the way for his return.

“He’s ready,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “We need his instincts and his ball skills to get this defense back on track.”

Owner Jerry Jones echoed that optimism: “We invested a lot in him, and now it’s time for Bland to reward that faith with the kind of playmaking that makes him special.”

 

With Bland’s return, the expected debut of Jadeveon Clowney, and the looming comeback of rookie Shavon Revel, the Cowboys believe their defense can steady itself just long enough to weather injuries on the offensive side of the ball.

Bears Could Get Huge Boost to Pass Rush for ‘MNF’ vs. Commanders
Bears defensive end Austin Booker could return in Week 6. The Chicago Bears could receive a significant boost to their pass rush when they take on the Washington Commanders for Monday Night Football in Week 6. The Bears are now eligible to designate second-year defensive end Austin Booker for return from the injured reserve list after he missed the first four games of the season. Booker had shone in the preseason and seemed the likely choice to serve as the Bears‘ top rotational pass rusher behind veterans Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo coming into the 2025 season, but he suffered a knee injury in August that forced the team to place him on the short-term injured reserve list after the 53-man roster cutdown. Promoted Content Brain Specialist: Honey, The Plaque Destroyer (Watch This)   Brain Journal Researcher: Honey Method, Alzheimer's Natural Predator (See How)   Brain Journal Dementia Has Been Linked To A Common Habit. Do You Do It?   Brain Defender Dementia & Memory Loss Have Been Linked To This Habit. You Do It?   Brain Journal While the Bears have not laid out an expected return timeline for Booker, they will have the option of designating him for return to practice in Week 6 if they feel he has made enough progress in his injury recovery. Once the Bears designate him for return, they will have 21 days to activate him to the roster or else must leave him on IR for the year. The Bears could provide clues to Booker’s status when they hold their first practice of the week on Wednesday and issue their first injury report for Sunday’s prime-time date with the Commanders. They would need to activate Booker by Saturday afternoon at the latest for him to have a chance of suiting up for them on Monday Night Football. The Bears (2-2) will take on the Commanders (3-2) at 8:15 p.m. ET next Monday.