The tough season for the Dallas Cowboys continued on Thursday with the lack of a key participant for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Head coach Mike McCarthy introduced that seven-time first-team All-Professional and nine-time Professional Bowler Zack Martin could have season-ending surgical procedure due to a proper ankle problem that continues to plague the 34-year-old guard, per Todd Archer of ESPN.
Martin’s harm is one other on an extended record of setbacks for Dallas (5-7) this season. QB Dak Prescott (hamstring) and star DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) had been positioned on injured reserve and three-time Professional Bowl linebacker Micah Parsons missed 4 video games with a excessive ankle sprain.
Along with the ankle harm, Martin is coping with shoulder issues. With the veteran set to overlook the remainder of the 2024 season and scheduled to enter the offseason as a free agent, the potential Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer could have performed his closing snap in Dallas.
No matter the place Martin goes from right here, he has had a sensational profession. Chosen No. 16 general within the 2014 NFL Draft, he turned the primary Cowboys rookie to be named a first-team All-Professional in franchise historical past. Along with his 9 Professional Bowl alternatives, Martin solely trails 11-time Professional Bowler Jason Witten and Corridor of Famers Bob Lilly (11), Larry Allen (10) and Mel Renfro (10) in Cowboys historical past, in response to StatMuse.
An improved run recreation has helped the Cowboys to back-to-back division wins over the Washington Commanders (8-5) and New York Giants (2-10), however the lack of Martin is large blow for a group nonetheless trying to find consistency.
Since Prescott has been sidelined, backup QB Cooper Rush has performed solidly (1,008 passing yards, 5 TDs and solely two interceptions). However he has been sacked seven occasions, together with 5 occasions in opposition to the Houston Texans (8-5) in a 34-10 blowout loss on Nov. 18.
Martin’s absence will not assist Dallas in move safety. Brock Hoffman, who went undrafted in 2022 and changed Martin the previous two video games, will in all probability exchange him.
“I assumed Brock has carried out a very nice job,” McCarthy mentioned, per Reuters. “He is introduced an edge to us.”
In Week 14, the Cowboys will play the floundering Bengals (4-8) at house on “Monday Night time Soccer.”
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