Second-year Dallas Cowboys cornerback Daron Bland is only starting because of the season-ending torn ACL Trevon Diggs suffered back in September.
But the former fifth-round pick from Fresno State continues to make the most of his opportunities. Sunday’s 33-10 win over Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers represented the latest example of this.
With Dallas up 24-10 early in the fourth quarter, Bland picked off Young and returned it to the house 30 yards for a touchdown to pretty much put this one away.
That’s Bland’s sixth interception on the season. He also tied an NFL record with his fourth pick-six of the season. You read that right. Four. Talk about making a major impact.
The Next Gen Stats are even more eye-opening when it comes to what Bland has done thus far this season.
Daron Bland entered Sunday’s Week 11 action yielding a mere 50% completion and 34.0 QB rating when targeted on the season. This represents some of the best numbers in the NFL for a cornerback.
Bland’s ability to step up in Diggs’ absense is one of the primary reasons Dallas now finds itself at 7-3 on the season while boasting one of the best defenses in the NFL.
In fact, the cornerback duo of Bland and Stephon Gilmore might be one of the best in the NFL right now. It’s a testament to how well owner Jerry Jones and Co. have scouted this position.