FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland went home ill Monday, coach Brian Schottenheimer said, as Dallas returned to practice to begin preparing for Sunday night’s game at the Green Bay Packers. Cornerback Caelen Carson also went home sick.
Bland played all 72 defensive snaps in Thursday’s 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finished with 5 tackles and a pass breakup. He said after the game that he slipped in coverage on two of Tampa Bay’s biggest third-quarter passes.
“So we have DaRon and Caelen Carson went home. They were both feeling ill,” Schottenheimer said Monday. “Ameer Speed and Shavon Revel, they both had sore knees, nothing that we’re concerned about.”
DaRon Bland On The Third-And-21 And The 64-Yard Catch
After an 11-yard sack and an incompletion left Tampa Bay facing third-and-21 from the Dallas 48, Jalon Daniels hit Emeka Egbuka for exactly 21 yards. Bland was in cover three and made the tackle at the 27, and replay confirmed the first down. Tampa Bay kicked a field goal for a 24-10 lead.
“I just slipped a little bit, keeping the top over, keeping the top on the routes,” Bland said. “But I just slipped. I got to come down and finish.”
Earlier in the third quarter, Daniels found Tez Johnson for a 64-yard gain that set up a 1-yard Bucky Irving touchdown run. Bland said he slipped on that play, too.
“Yeah, I slipped. I just, I just slipped. I gotta keep my feet on that,” Bland explained.
DaRon Bland On The Defense And Christian Parker
Dallas has allowed 136 points through five games. Bland said the defensive room is not at its best.
“The D room is not our best. Still got a lot to grow and more room to be better at,” Bland said.
The Cowboys hired Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant Monday to support defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Bland said after Thursday’s game that Parker would go through the X’s and O’s with the players.
“Oh yeah, we know CP, he’s a guy, he’s gonna come in tomorrow, we’re gonna check out the X’s and O’s and see where we can get better at,” Bland said. “That’s always his thing.”
Bland has six career interception returns for touchdowns, including an NFL-record five in 2023. Schottenheimer said Thursday that the team expects Bland to make plays on the ball.
“No, again, we expect him to make those plays. He expects himself to make those plays. He’s made those plays a bunch around here,” Schottenheimer explained. “Probably surprised because I’ve seen him make those plays so much.”
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr., acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this month, missed Thursday’s game with flu symptoms. Schottenheimer did not include Porter in his Monday injury update. Kickoff at Lambeau Field is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 18, on NBC.
