Cowboys right guard Zack Martin said before the 2024 season started that retirement was in the realm of possibilities after the season was over, so it was easy to guess that he’d face a question about his future plans when he met the media on Thursday.
Martin spoke to reporters after head coach Mike McCarthy announced earlier in the day that the seven-time All-Pro will have season-ending ankle surgery. Martin said he has been dealing with the ankle issue since the summer and hoped that resting the last couple of weeks would allow him to finish the season, but that he came “to the realization that I need to get this thing fixed and get healthy.”
Martin said he wants to that process to play out and “we’ll see what the future holds” once that happens.
“This is not the time to have those discussions, and this is kind of all I’ll say about that,” Martin said, via the team’s website. “It’s a tough situation and the most important thing on my mind is getting healthy, and then having those conversations down the road. First and foremost, I want to get healthy and maybe those conversations are a little bit easier.”
Martin is not under contract for the 2025 season, so where he’d play would be another question to answer although it’s not one anyone will ask until he reveals his plans.
The Bengals got left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. back in the lineup last Sunday and he played every offensive snap of their loss to the Steelers, but it appears he suffered a physical setback.
Brown had missed the previous three games with a fibula injury and head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Thursday that Brown is considered doubtful for Monday nigth’s game against the Cowboys.
Cody Ford started in place of Brown in the three games he missed and got the start at left guard against the Steelers. Cordell Volson started at that spot when Brown was out, so that may be the alignment again on Monday.
Taylor also confirmed that the Bengals expect linebacker Logan Wilson to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Cowboys right guard Zack Martin’s 2024 season is over.
Head coach Mike McCarthy announced on Thursday that Martin will have surgery on the ankle injury that sidelined him in the team’s last two games. Martin will now miss the team’s five remaining games of this season and move into an uncertain football future.
Martin is in the final year of his contract and he said in June that retirement was in the realm of possibilities after the 2024 season. The work needed to recover from season-ending ankle surgery will likely factor into any decision on that front.
If he is done, Martin will go down as one of the most accomplished offensive linemen of any era. He was voted a first-team All-Pro seven times in his first 10 seasons with the Cowboys and season No. 11 will mark only the second time that he didn’t start at least 14 of the team’s games.
The NFL has announced this year’s nominees for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Each NFL team nominates one player for the award, which recognizes players who excel both on the field and in their communities.
“The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award celebrates Walter’s enduring legacy of excellence on the field and compassion off it,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “This award is the league’s most prestigious honor, and we are proud to recognize these 32 outstanding men for the positive impact they make in their communities every day.”
Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward won the award last year. This year’s nominees are:
Cardinals tight end Trey McBride
Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett
Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith
Bills tackle Dion Dawkins
Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen
Bears defensive lineman Andrew Billings
Bengals tackle Orlando Brown Jr.
Browns cornerback Denzel Ward
Cowboys guard Zack Martin
Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton
Lions quarterback Jared Goff
Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark
Texans safety Jalen Pitre
Colts cornerback Kenny Moore
Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker
Rams running back Kyren Williams
Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold
Vikings fullback C.J. Ham
Patriots defensive lineman Deatrich Wise
Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton
Jets defensive lineman Solomon Thomas
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham
Steelers defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi
49ers linebacker Curtis Robinson
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans
Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons
Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner
Dak Prescott expressed support for Mike McCarthy, saying the Cowboys coach deserves “another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to say it.”
McCarthy hadn’t seen Prescott’s Tuesday comments a day later and seemed uncertain about what his quarterback meant by the phrase “on his terms.”
“I think it’s like any job and this one specifically: I have a clear understanding of the responsibility,” McCarthy said, via Schuyler Dixon of the Associated Press. “This is the most input I’ve ever been a part of as a head coach in personnel, particularly in the draft. We spend a tremendous amount of time as a coaching staff on the draft. . . . It’s different. Just trying to give you a good answer, compare it to my past.
“I’m not sure what exactly he said, but its just like anything: We are in year five of a program. We have a lot of excellent things in place. I think we have some things we can do better, and I think it’s all part of growing. It’s no different the way I felt in year five or six in my last opportunity.”
McCarthy lasted 13 seasons in Green Bay, winning a Super Bowl in 2010. He is in the final year of his contract in his fifth year in Dallas.
The expectation long has been that the Cowboys will move on after the season, but owner Jerry Jones said last week that it’s “not crazy” to believe McCarthy could return.
The Cowboys had three consecutive 12-win seasons before starting this season 3-7. They have won two in a row and have the Bengals, Panthers and Buccaneers in the next three games.
McCarthy is 47-32 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason in his time with the Cowboys.
