One of the more spectacular defensive plays in the Cowboys’ victory over the Detroit Lions Sunday was the diving interception made by Jourdan Lewis in the fourth quarter with the score at 10-6. The play ignited a Dallas attack that scored 14 unanswered points and earned a crucial win.
Lewis was injured on the play, and the Cowboys announced on Monday that he is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a serious Lisfranc injury to his right foot. He immediately underwent surgery Sunday night to repair the damage.
The injury involves either a fracture to the bone or tears to the ligaments and tendons in the bones in the center of the foot. A Lisfranc injury that requires surgery indicates that the medical staff inserted steel plates and screws in the bones to stabilize the area until it can heal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Surgical repair typically results in three months in a cast followed by physical therapy.
Lewis was having a productive season as teams throw away from Trevon Diggs. He had 26 total tackles, one sack, one pass defense, and an interception in six games. The takeaway turned out to be the last play Lewis will make in 2022, as the Cowboys officially placed him on Injured Reserve on October 24. Lewis has one year remaining on a three-year, $8.75 million deal he signed in 2021.
According to Pro Football Reference, quarterbacks throwing against Lewis had a rating of 74.2 and got completions on 74 percent of targets against the corner. The average yards-per-catch for receivers facing Lewis this season is only 9.6 yards, indicating that Lewis has not been getting beat for big plays. Lewis had one penalty called against him this season – an illegal contact call against the New York Giants that resulted in a five-yard penalty.
The loss of Lewis at cornerback will give DaRon Bland an opportunity to step up into a larger role for the Cowboys’ defense. Bland has shown flashes of brilliance in his few opportunities this season, including an interception against the Washington Commanders that contributed to the Cowboys’ victory.
Bland is a Cowboys 2022 Round 5 pick from Fresno State that impressed the coaches in preseason action. Bland will likely move into the slot corner spot with Trevon Diggs and Anthony Brown at the corners.
Dallas also has options available on the roster, with Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright in the wings. Joseph recorded five tackles in three games earlier this season, while Wright has logged at least one tackle in each game this season.
The Cowboys could also look for outside help with the NFL trade deadline still a week away. It isn’t clear what teams might be interested or who Dallas would target at this late date, and the move is unlikely given the history of the organization, which tends to look for the next man up from within.
The Cowboys face the Chicago Bears this coming Sunday before entering a bye week, giving the players an opportunity to rest and coaches a chance to evaluate the team’s options in the wake of losing Lewis to a serious injury.
