FRISCO, Texas — Zack Martin will not take the field again for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. The perennial All-Pro will undergo season-ending surgery, per head coach Mike McCarthy, to repair an ankle injury suffered two weeks ago in the matchup against the Houston Texans.
Martin has dealt with a variety of injuries this season, from his back to his shoulder and now his ankle, but it's the latter that ultimately ended his campaign.
The news lands only hours after Martin discovered he is the team's nominee for Walter Paytom Man of Year Award.
"He's gonna be missed," said McCarthy. "We're not gonna replace Zack Martin, by any means. … He brings so much to the team and the team culture. We all recognize what kind of player he"s been here in Dallas, but the type of person he is — people gravitate to him. His leadership, he'll definitely be missed in that area."
Martin dealt with injuries to both ankles this season, but it's the one on his right side that requires repair.
Questions surrounding the future of the eventual first-ballot Hall of Famer will not be answered anytime soon, as the Cowboys attempt to turn the page this season toward players like Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass at right guard.
Sitting at 5-7 and facing the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night with only four games remaining thereafter in the regular season, the Cowboys have been ravaged by injury and Martin, the usual ironman, is unable to escape the bite of that bug.
