Cowboys Receive Much-Needed Boost with Diggs and Bland Cleared to Play
In a season where the Dallas Cowboys have struggled defensively, a ray of hope emerged before their Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Despite battling through injuries that limited their practice participation throughout the week, star cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland have been cleared to play, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. This comes as crucial news for a Cowboys secondary that has been the team’s Achilles’ heel in the early part of the season. Both players had been listed as questionable—Diggs nursing a knee injury and Bland dealing with shoulder issues—but their availability provides a significant boost to a defense desperately seeking stability.
The timing couldn’t be better for the Cowboys, who currently stand at 2-2-1 and find themselves surrendering an alarming 412.0 yards per game, the worst mark in the NFL. Their pass defense has been particularly vulnerable, allowing a league-worst 284.6 passing yards per contest. These troubling statistics highlight just how vital Diggs and Bland are to Dallas’s defensive scheme. While the Panthers aren’t known for their offensive firepower, they do feature young quarterback Bryce Young, talented receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and interestingly, former Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle, who is coming off an impressive 200+ yard performance against the Miami Dolphins. The presence of Diggs and Bland should help Dallas contain Carolina’s passing attack and potentially force Young into making rookie mistakes.
The Cowboys’ defensive struggles this season represent a stark contrast to the team’s offensive productivity. Quarterback Dak Prescott has been nothing short of spectacular, accumulating 1,356 passing yards and 10 touchdowns through just five games—numbers that place him firmly in the early MVP conversation. Prescott’s excellence has kept Dallas competitive despite their defensive shortcomings, but even his heroics can only carry the team so far. For the Cowboys to truly contend in a loaded NFC, they need their defense to start pulling its weight, making the return of Diggs and Bland all the more significant for their long-term prospects.
What makes the availability of Diggs and Bland particularly important is the high-caliber talent they bring to the secondary. Diggs, known for his ball-hawking abilities and playmaking skills, has been a game-changer since entering the league, famously recording 11 interceptions in the 2021 season. Though he missed most of the 2023 campaign with an ACL tear, his return to form this season has been a bright spot for an otherwise struggling unit. Bland, meanwhile, emerged as a revelation last year in Diggs’ absence, setting an NFL record with five interception returns for touchdowns. Together, they form one of the most potentially dynamic cornerback duos in the league—when healthy.
The Cowboys’ situation highlights a broader narrative about team construction in today’s NFL. Despite being labeled as having “the league’s worst offense” in some circles, the reality is that Dallas’s offensive production under Prescott has been impressive—it’s the defense that has consistently let them down. This imbalance presents a significant challenge for head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who must find ways to maximize the talents of players like Diggs and Bland while addressing the unit’s overall vulnerabilities. The Week 6 matchup against Carolina, while seemingly favorable on paper, represents an opportunity to build defensive confidence and potentially establish some momentum.
As the Cowboys navigate the remainder of their schedule, the health of their defensive stars will remain a critical factor in determining their playoff fortunes. The NFC East appears more competitive than anticipated, with the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles both showing signs of strength. In this context, every game becomes crucial, and having players like Diggs and Bland available could make the difference between victory and defeat in close contests. While Carolina presents an immediate opportunity to correct course, the true test for this Dallas defense will come against more potent offenses in the weeks ahead. For now, Cowboys fans can take solace in knowing that two of their most important defensive players will be on the field Sunday, giving them their best chance to secure a much-needed win and potentially turn their season around.
