Cowboys vs 49ers Initial Injury Report: Why aren’t the All-Pros ready to go?

The Cowboys and 49ers are competing for who can run up the most medical bills in Week 8 | From @KDDrummondNFL

It was this time two weeks ago when things started to look brighter. All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland, missing from the lineup all season, was on track to play in Week 6. On injured reserve due to foot surgery, Bland had been especially missed for two games as his surprisingly good understudy, fifth-round rookie Caelen Carson, was missing time due to a shoulder injury.

Both players were thought to be ready to return, just in time to try and help corral the Detroit Lions passing attack, but that’s not how things went at all. After fully participating in both Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practice, again, two weeks ago, Bland appeared on Friday’s practice report with the dreaded “DNP” designation: Did Not Participate.

And now, in their first practice after the bye week, Bland appears on the first injury report of Week 9 as DNP.

What gives? If the initial concern was just that he wasn’t ready for game action, that would be understandable. But it’s pretty impossible to walk out that line of reasoning almost a full two weeks later.

Did Bland re-injure something?

Also a concern, star pass rusher Micah Parsons is also missing from the hopeful status categories for Wednesday, getting a DNP as well due to his high-ankle sprain.

Parsons spoke earlier in the bye that his return isn’t solely up to him, that he has to get complete clearance to ensure he won’t make his injury worse.

The 49ers are dealing with their own rash of injuries of course, with Brandon Aiyuk going on IR and Deebo Samuel dealing with pneumonia, but they’ll receive no sympathy from the Cowboys. Here’s a look at the teams’ reports from Wednesday.

Dallas Cowboys

K Brandon Aubrey, NIR-Other | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

CB DaRon Bland, Foot | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | Wednesday: Full Participant

WR Ryan Flournoy, Ankle | Wednesday: Limitd Participant

Linebacker Eric Kendricks, Shoulder | Wednesday: Limited

Linebacker Nick Vigil, Foot | Wednesday: Limited

LB Marist Liufau, Shoulder | Wednesday: Full Participant

DT Jordan Phillips, Wrist | Wednesday: Full Participant

TE John Stephens, Knee | Wednesday: Limited

San Francisco 49ers

WR Deebo Samuel, Wrist/Illness | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

WR Jauan Jennings, Hip | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

K Jake Moody, Ankle | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

DT Kevin Givens, Groin | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

TE George Kittle, Foot | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

Safety George Odum, Knee | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

WR Chris Conley, Ankle | Wednesday: Limited

DE Nick Bosa, Elbow | Wednesday: Limited

RB Jordan Mason, Shoulder | Wednesday: Limited

Wedensday Vet Day: LT Trent Williams