The Dallas Cowboys activated DaRon Bland from injured reserve on Wednesday and placed fellow cornerback Amani Oruwariye on IR.
Bland has been sidelined since undergoing surgery to repair a fractured foot sustained during training camp. The Cowboys opened Bland’s 21-day practice window on Oct. 9, therefore the team needed to activate him today or return him to season-ending injured reserve.
Bland, 25, led the league with nine interceptions — including an NFL-record five picks returned for touchdowns — in 17 games (15 starts) last season. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams.
Bland has recorded 14 interceptions and 123 tackles since being selected by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Oruwariye, 28, will be sidelined for at least four games after sustaining a back injury during Dallas’ 30-24 setback to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.
Oruwariye has 20 tackles and one interception in four games (two starts) this season.
He has totaled 193 tackles and 10 interceptions in 58 career games (38 starts) with the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cowboys.