Cowboys will play Saints in Week 2 without one of their best defenders

This could be big. ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that the Dallas Cowboys will be without star cornerback DaRon Bland for six to eight weeks while he recovers from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot. It’s a similar injury to the one Juwan Johnson dealt with this offseason. That means they’ll be missing one of their best defenders when the New Orleans Saints visit AT&T Stadium in Week 2.

Bland won Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition in 2023 after leading the NFL with interceptions (9), interception return yards (209), and pick-sixes (5). That’s after he picked off five passes in his 2022 rookie year. So he’ll be missed in the Cowboys secondary.

But can the Saints capitalize on that absence? They caught a number of opponents at a bad time in 2023 but couldn’t take advantage of those mismatches. They were swatted aside by a Minnesota Vikings team missing both Justin Jefferson and Kirk Cousins without much trouble. If Dennis Allen’s squad can’t move the ball against a Dallas defense working without one of their best playmakers, he and his team will continue to be haunted by the same narratives.

This is going to be an opportunity to knock off a good team facing adversity. Allen and the Saints must capitalize on it. Kickoff is scheduled for Sept. 15 at Noon CT/1 p.m. ET.