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DaRon Bland

Latest On Cowboys’ CB Situation

June 16th, 2023 at 1:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys finished last season without two veteran cornerbacks, losing Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown to major injuries. Brown’s contract expired, and the seven-year vet is a free agent. Lewis remains on the team but is not a lock to be ready for the season.

Lewis was told he suffered a severe Lisfranc fracture, per the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore, and he acknowledged the battle will be avoiding the reserve/PUP list. That designation would sideline him for four games to start the season. But Lewis is a near-certainty to begin training camp on the shelf. With Lewis ticketed for the active/PUP list next month, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) a cornerback addition will probably be considered.

Jones noted that such a move might be for depth purposes, and the Cowboys already made their splashy corner addition in March. They sent a 2023 fifth-round pick to the Colts for Stephon Gilmore. The former Defensive Player of the Year will join Trevon Diggs as Dallas’ outside cornerbacks. Lewis may become a factor in the slot again, but for the time being, the former third-round pick is not in the picture.

Lewis’ primary replacement following his October injury, DaRon Bland, worked in the slot at minicamp. After beginning last season as a backup and special-teamer, Bland started eight games and graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 48 overall corner. Bland intercepted four passes in the Cowboys’ final six games and played every defensive snap for the team in the playoffs. That grade aside, the 6-foot-2 corner still allowed five touchdown passes as the closest defender in coverage.

The Cowboys are not planning to reduce Bland’s role, with Machota noting he is expected to be a top-three corner alongside Diggs and Gilmore to start his sophomore NFL slate (subscription required). This plan extending into the regular season stands to complicate matters for Lewis and Kelvin Joseph. The team tried the former second-rounder in the slot during its offseason program. Despite Joseph’s draft pedigree, he has not carved out much of a role in Dallas. He has played 330 defensive snaps in 26 career games. Bland looks to be firmly ahead of the former No. 44 overall pick exiting minicamp.

Lewis, who will turn 28 later this summer, is entering the final season of a three-year, $13.5MM deal. The 43-game starter is due a $4.5MM base salary and counts $5.9MM against the Cowboys’ cap. The Cowboys drafted a corner — Eric Scott Jr. — in the sixth round and still have 2021 third-rounder Nahshon Wright on the roster. Lewis, who was on crutches during part of the spring, has been running since May, per Moore. In order to position himself for a notable third contract, the Michigan product will need to show he has recovered from this injury this season.

Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis Out For Remainder Of Preseason

August 19th, 2022 at 5:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys are dealing with a number of injuries in their receiving corps right now, but another position group will be shorthanded for at least a few weeks. Slot corner Jourdan Lewis suffered a hamstring injury in practice earlier this week, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. 

As a result of the injury, Lewis will miss the remainder of training camp and the Cowboys’ two remaining preseason games. His timetable beyond that point is unclear; head coach Mike McCarthy said that more will be known only after he begins the rehab process. McCarthy did add, however, that “the immediate goal is to get him [back] for Week 1.’

Lewis, 26, has regained the role he had as a rookie in 2017 over the past two years, with snap percentages in the 70s. He had a career-year last campaign with three interceptions, 11 pass deflections and 61 total tackles – further proving the three-year extension he signed last March to be worthwhile. Missing any significant time in the regular season would, of course, be a major blow to the Cowboys’ secondary, which played a large role in the team’s surprising success on defense last season.

As Watkins notes, Dallas has a few options to replace Lewis in the short-term. Outside corner Anthony Brown could move inside, which would elevate Kelvin Joseph (who last month was cleared of all wrongdoing in association with a shooting investigation) to a starting position on the perimeter. Alternatively, the Cowboys could turn to fifth-round rookie DaRon Bland in the slot, which would leave Brown and Trevon Diggs on the outside.

The Cowboys’ two remaining preseason games could shed light on their plan to fill in for Lewis if doing so proves necessary in September. In the meantime, the progress he makes with respect to recovery will be worth watching.

Cowboys Sign First-Round OL Tyler Smith

May 13th, 2022 at 5:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys came to terms with first-round pick Tyler Smith on his four-year rookie contract Friday and are putting him to work at a new position, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets.

Smith lined up at left guard at Dallas’ rookie minicamp Friday, marking the first time he has played the guard position since his senior year of high school, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram relays. The Tulsa product played exclusively at left tackle in college.

Tackle-to-guard transitions are common in the NFL; Zack Martin made the move as a rookie in 2014. Like Smith, Martin did not make any starts at guard in college. The Cowboys are still planning on a Tyron Smith-to-Tyler Smith transition at left tackle someday, with Hill noting the younger Smith will receive left tackle reps this offseason. But for now, the first-rounder will vie to line up next to the perennial Pro Bowler up front.

The Cowboys let previous left guard Connor Williams defect to the Dolphins in free agency, pitting Tyler Smith against Connor McGovern. While Smith could make sense at right tackle, the Cowboys are high on frequent starter Terence Steele to take over for La’el Collins full-time at that spot.

Smith, who goes 6-foot-4 and 324 pounds, was the Golden Hurricane’s full-time starter at left tackle in 2020 and ’21. As the No. 24 overall pick, Smith will be tied to a fully guaranteed deal worth $13.38MM, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets. The Cowboys can keep Smith on that rookie contract through 2026, via the fifth-year option.

The Cowboys also signed fifth-round offensive lineman Matt Waletzko (North Dakota State), fifth-round cornerback DaRon Bland (Fresno State), fifth-round linebacker Damone Clark (LSU) and sixth-round linebacker Devin Harper (Oklahoma State)on Friday, The Athletic’s Jon Machota tweets.