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Dallas Cowboys right guard Zack Martin is going to have season-ending ankle surgery, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Martin suffered the ankle injury during the Cowboys' Monday Night Football loss to the Houston Texans on Nov. 18, and has not played since. Now, he will sit out for the rest of the 2024 season and potentially try to return in 2025, assuming he does not call it a career before his age-35 season.
The Cowboys have been decimated by injuries this season, and Martin's just adds to the lengthy list that is headlined by quarterback Dak Prescott. Martin, a future Hall of Famer, has been a valued member of the Cowboys since his rookie season in 2014.
It is tough to imagine that Martin will want to end his career like this, but it will still be worth monitoring reports in the coming weeks and this offseason to see his official decision on playing in 2025. If he does play, he will be a free agent. The Cowboys still have talent on the team to potentially have a resurgence if they are healthy and Martin re-signs. A coaching change is in play as well due to the fact that Mike McCarthy's contract is expiring at the end of the season.
Cowboys still fighting amid rash of injuries
The Cowboys were seemingly well out of the playoff picture a few weeks ago at 3-7, but after a surprising upset win over the Washington Commanders and a win over the New York Giants on Thanksgiving, they are at 5-7 and have faint life in the NFC Wild Card picture. The next two games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers could be winnable too.
Currently, the Cowboys are tied for 11th in the NFC with the San Francisco 49ers. They need to pass the 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then the Commanders to secure a playoff spot. That is a longshot. Dallas would likely have to win at least four of its five remaining games to have a chance, but the team is trying to pull of a miracle. Star pass rusher Micah Parsons has stepped up and said he believes his team is going to go on a run.
The Bengals are a tough test offensively, but the defense has been a disaster this year, and the Panthers have looked better as of late, so that will not be easy either. However, it would not be a surprise to see the Cowboys win those two games. If they do, then they are back to .500 at 7-7 overall with games against the Buccaneers, Eagles and Commanders to close the season.
