Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland missed the final three games of the regular season because of a left foot injury and he went for a repair on Tuesday.
The Cowboys announced that Bland had surgery in Indianapolis. It’s the second time in two years that Bland has had surgery on his left foot. Bland also dealt with a right foot injury during the season.
Bland played in 12 games during the regular season. He had 73 tackles and his sixth career interception return for a touchdown in those appearances. The other five scores came when Bland was named an All-Pro in 2023.
Bland signed a four-year extension before the 2025 season and will now head into the first year of that pact.
All teams would prefer to have a quiet offseason, except when they hope to make some noise. The Cowboys have made a little noise at a time when they would have liked to make none.
Defensive Donovan Ezeiruaku was arrested over the weekend for reckless driving in Collin County Texas, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.
Ezeiruaku was released from custody on Monday after posting $500 bond.
Per Watkins, the Cowboys said on Monday night that they are aware of the arrest.
A 2025 second-round pick from Boston College, Ezeiruaku appeared in 17 games with nine starts as a rookie. He had 2.0 sacks.
Former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is almost certain to have a job in 2026. The questions are: What job and where?
Gannon will interview for the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator job on Tuesday, the Commanders’ defensive coordinator job on Thursday and the Titans’ head coaching job on Sunday, NFL Media reports.
The Cardinals fired Gannon last week after three seasons as the team’s head coach.
The Cardinals had a record of 15-36 in Gannon’s tenure, including a 3-14 record in 2025. While Arizona started the season 2-0 with victories over New Orleans and Carolina, the team lost 14 of its last 15 games, with the only victory coming against Dallas in Week 9.
The club’s high-water mark under Gannon was 8-9 in 2024. That came after a 4-13 season to open Gannon’s tenure in 2023.
Gannon earned his head coaching job after two seasons as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. He has also worked for the Falcons, Titans, Vikings and Colts, although his time with the Eagles is his only experience as a defensive coordinator.
The Cowboys are scheduled to interview former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon for their open defensive coordinator position, Clarence Hill of All City DLLS reports.
They also requested an interview with Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, per Hill.
The Cowboys also want to interview Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard and their own defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton.
Gannon spent the past three seasons as the Cardinals’ head coach. He earned that job with his two seasons as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator.
He also has worked for the Falcons, Titans, Vikings and Colts, though his time with the Eagles is his only experience as a defensive coordinator.
Orr is a Dallas-Fort Worth product who played collegiately at the University of North Texas. He spent the past two seasons as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, his only experience calling the defense.
This season, the Ravens were 24th in total defense, 30th in passing defense, 18th in scoring defense, 30th in total sacks and 18th in takeaways.
Orr and Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer coached together with the Jaguars in 2021.
The Cowboys will interview defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton for their vacant defensive coordinator position, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
The Cowboys have also requested Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones and Broncos defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Whitecotton joined Matt Eberflus’ staff a year ago, his first season in Dallas.
He spent the previous four seasons in the same position on the Jets’ staff. He also coached for the 49ers, Bills, and Jaguars before joining Robert Saleh’s staff with the Jets.
It would be a surprise if the Cowboys chose to promote Whitecotton, considering the struggles of the defense. Dallas ranked last in points allowed in 2025, giving up a team-record 511 points.
But the Cowboys traded edge rusher Micah Parsons just before the start of the season.
