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FRISCO, Texas — Hours before kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Joey Porter Jr. are both trending toward playing, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, citing sources.
Rapoport reported that Bland is dealing with an ankle injury and that Porter is working through ankle and foot problems. Porter “has had two good practices in two days,” he wrote.
Joey Porter Jr. Limited Friday After Missing Week 9 At Indianapolis
Porter missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with the ankle injury, according to the Cowboys’ official injury updates. On Thursday, he said his entire foot was bothering him but that he still hoped to play against San Francisco. He returned on a limited basis Friday and was listed as questionable that afternoon.
Dallas sent a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire Porter at the end of September.
The ankle injury goes back to Porter’s Cowboys debut against the Houston Texans, DallasCowboys.com’s Patrik Walker reported Thursday. He had also missed a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a severe illness.
Porter kept playing on the ankle, which made the injury worse. Dallas held him out of the Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Porter called the missed time frustrating.
“I’m on a new team, and I want to show these guys what I can do,” Porter said, “and I feel like I have been, for the most part, when I’m on the field. So when I can’t play football, it’s frustrating for everybody. I’m just trying to keep the main thing, the main thing, and get back as fast as possible.”
DaRon Bland Questionable, Derion Kendrick Elevated For Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers
Bland, a first-team All-Pro in 2023, was added to the injury report Friday with an ankle injury and listed as questionable.
Dallas called up cornerback Derion Kendrick from the practice squad Saturday, his second elevation of the season. Rookie cornerback Devin Moore is out. His 21-day practice window opened last week, but he will remain on injured reserve.
The Cowboys are 4-5 after a 27-23 win at Indianapolis last Sunday. San Francisco comes in at 7-1. Bland’s and Porter’s status will be settled when Dallas turns in its inactive list 90 minutes before the 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff at AT&T Stadium.
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