As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for their Week 8 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, injury updates on Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland will be crucial to the game plan.
The Dallas Cowboys defense has been hit hard by injuries throughout the early part of the 2024 season, and while they managed to scrape by with a narrow victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5, their absences were glaring in a tough Week 6 loss at home to the Detroit Lions.
However, the Cowboys are hoping to regain some key defensive pieces following their bye week as they gear up for a pivotal Week 8 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Two players, in particular, could make a significant impact: DaRon Bland, who was placed on injured reserve before the season with a foot injury, has been designated for return, and star edge rusher Micah Parsons is working his way back from a high-ankle sprain he suffered in a win over the New York Giants.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy expressed optimism about Parsons' recovery but emphasized that his status for the Week 8 game against the 49ers is still uncertain.
"He's doing good. Micah is making progress," McCarthy said.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones echoed this sentiment during his weekly radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan but also tempered expectations.
"You can’t tell today," Jones noted. "We're not going to be able to tell their availability until right at game time."
As the Cowboys look to bounce back against a 49ers team missing stars Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Christian McCaffrey, getting Parsons and Bland back on the field could give Dallas the boost they need to turn the tide in a matchup that has recently favored San Francisco.
