Zack Martin's Season Cut Short Due to Ankle Surgery
In a devastating blow to the Dallas Cowboys, it has been announced that veteran guard Zack Martin will miss the remainder of the 2024 NFL season due to a right ankle injury that has necessitated surgery. The decision, described as unanimous, comes after Martin struggled with the persistent injury over several years, a situation that was exacerbating during training camp and persisted throughout the season.
Head coach Mike McCarthy broke the news, explaining, "Zack is going to have season-ending surgery on his ankle." The coach elaborated, detailing the team's efforts to manage the injury over recent weeks. "We started off a couple of weeks ago, we felt with the two weeks prior to Cincinnati, we felt this was a good path for him to try to get back for the Cincinnati game. But as he went through the protocol and the planning, Friday, things didn't look quite as good as we hoped."
Martin, who turned 34 just last month, has been an anchor on the Cowboys’ offensive line for 11 seasons. During his illustrious career, he has earned first-team All-Pro honors seven times and has made nine Pro Bowl appearances, solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s premier offensive linemen. Despite this, 2024 has been a challenging season for Martin as his Pro Football Focus offensive grades experienced a significant drop from 94.2 in 2021 to 65.6 in the current year, and he allowed a career-high five sacks.
Reflecting on his long-standing injury woes, Martin admitted, "It's something I've been dealing with all year, back to training camp, really, over the last few years." Yet he remains focused on recovery, stating, "This is not the time to have those discussions. This is all I'll say about that. It's a tough situation and the most important thing on my mind is getting healthy."
Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass have stepped in to fill the void left by Martin, an endeavor McCarthy acknowledges will be challenging. "Those guys have worked hard," McCarthy commended their efforts. "I mean Brock's done a nice job in there. T.J., I thought he played well in Washington. The biggest thing for him is to be consistent." Yet McCarthy also admits, "We're not going to replace Zack Martin by no means. Just his presence...he's the veteran leader who leads one of the meetings."
As Martin enters the final year of his contract, speculation about his future may linger in the background of the Dallas Cowboys' broader strategy. Yet such considerations seem premature as Martin remains centered on recovery above all else. His absence leaves a tangible void, but his influence continues to permeate the team’s culture, particularly through his embodiment of professionalism and relentless performance on the field—traits that support the assertion from McCarthy, "Clearly a Hall of Famer. Not only for the way he plays but just first class."
Throughout this trying period, Martin has leaned on close friends and former teammates for support, including Travis Frederick, with whom he maintains a close relationship. "Trav's like one of my best friends in the world. He was just calling and checking in on me. He's very aware, I've been filling him in kind of throughout the year," Martin shared, underscoring the personal bonds he’s built over his storied career.
The Cowboys now face the daunting task of recalibrating their offensive line strategies, a pivot that could impact their playoff aspirations. For now, the focus remains on adapting to the immediate future without their standout guard while rallying around his journey to health.