Cowboys officially rule out DaRon Bland vs. Giants. Who steps in at cornerback?

FRISCO — Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer doesn’t like to give official timetables on injuries for players. He may have given a hint about a loose timetable when it comes to cornerback DaRon Bland, however.

Bland was officially ruled out for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants after suffering a foot injury in practice on Monday. He was seen in a walking boot earlier in the week, but was spotted without one while walking around the Cowboys’ facility on Thursday.

Despite not giving a timetable for a return, Schottenheimer did say that the team doesn’t currently plan to put Bland on injured reserve.

“We don’t think that’s what it’s going to require,” Schottenheimer said about injured reserve, adding that no decision is final.

Cowboys

Fans show some messages in the second half of an NFL football game between the Dallas...

Bland missed 10 games with a stress fracture in his foot last season. The good news about this new injury is that it happened on the other foot.

If the Cowboys did put Bland on injured reserve, he would have to miss a minimum of four weeks before he could return. The fact that they aren’t planning on that currently suggests they think he could return before the four-week mark.

The Cowboys will play against the Giants on Sunday before heading on the road to face the Chicago Bears. After that they’ll host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football before traveling to face the New York Jets.

With Bland out, the Cowboys will likely look toward former undrafted free agent Reddy Steward to handle the bulk of slot corner duties. Steward has experience with current Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, as well as secondary coaches Andre Curtis and David Overstreet from their time in Chicago. Steward spent his rookie season with the Bears before he signed and was eventually waived by the Minnesota Vikings.

The familiarity Steward had with the current Cowboys coaches helped his transition. The Cowboys could also elevate undrafted free agent Zion Childress from the practice squad or, as Schottenheimer suggested, use safeties in different personnel packages.

“I’m very confident in Reddy and the guys that we have and the plan is a good plan,” Schottenheimer said. “We have to go out and execute it, but injuries are part of the game. You hate to see them happen when they do though, its supporting the player to get them back as soon as you can, which DaRon will do.”

When that actually happens remains to be seen. Bland’s return just won’t happen this week.

Twitter: @JoeJHoyt

Jacob deGrom leads Rangers to win, owning the mound and the night in return to New York