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The Dallas Cowboys will finish the season without All-Pro guard Zack Martin, who is set to have surgery on his right ankle, an issue that has plagued him throughout the year. Head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the news, noting that this is Martin’s third surgery on the same ankle.
“I think you just have to take a step back and deal with one thing at a time, and that’s frankly the conversation that Zack and I had,” McCarthy said. “The focus is really about the surgery, what’s next. And I think those are all questions that I’m sure that will be asked or will be thought about. But he really, in my conversations with him, his focus is on getting the surgery and trying to do the best he can with this ankle because obviously this is, I think, the third surgery that he’ll have on that ankle.”
Persistent Injuries Lead to Surgery
Martin, who has missed the Cowboys’ last two games due to ankle and shoulder injuries, revealed that treatments that had previously worked were no longer effective.
“After not responding to some of the treatment we did the last couple of weeks that I’ve done in the past that have really helped me, to not get that kind of response I’m looking for, and being able to be who I am on the field was a big part of it, we just came to the decision, it’s time to address the issue and move forward.”
The 34-year-old acknowledged the toll of the decision.
“Anytime you pour everything you have into something and come up short on it and have to do something like this, it sucks,” Martin said. “Guys in this locker room put a lot of time into this. It’s just a s—ty situation.”
Martin’s focus is now on recovery, and he avoided speculation about his future. “This is not the time to have those discussions,” he said. “This is all I’ll say about that: It’s a tough situation, and the most important thing on my mind is getting healthy and then having those conversations down the road. But first and foremost, I want to get healthy and then maybe those conversations are a little bit easier.”
Future with the Cowboys
Last offseason, the team adjusted Martin’s contract terms to spread out his cap hit in preparation for potential retirement. If Martin stays on the roster five days into the 2025 league year, the team will secure $40 million for 2026. Without restructuring, Martin would have carried a $25 million cap hit in 2025.
Retirement rumors have swirled, but McCarthy spoke highly of Martin’s legacy.
“Zach is clearly a Hall of Famer, not only for the way he plays but just first class,” McCarthy said. “He just commands a lot of respect. Same person, personality every single day. Hard-working. True team guy. Puts the team first. He’s been a joy to work with, and I can’t say enough great things about him.”
A Historic Career
Martin’s list of accolades makes him one of the most decorated players in Cowboys history. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection and seven-time All-Pro, Martin has joined the ranks of franchise legends like Bob Lilly, Larry Allen, and Jason Witten.
Drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Martin made an immediate impact. He was the only rookie named first-team All-Pro that season and remains the first Cowboys rookie to receive that honor. His lone Pro Bowl absence came in 2020, when he missed seven games due to a concussion and a calf injury.
Cowboys’ Offensive Adjustments
With Martin sidelined, Brock Hoffman has stepped in at right guard. The Cowboys’ run game has shown improvement during this stretch, including a 100-yard rushing performance from Rico Dowdle in Week 12.
Still, Martin’s absence leaves a significant void for a team fighting to maintain its playoff hopes. “Everyone agreed surgery was the best decision for Zack,” McCarthy said.
As the Cowboys move forward, Martin’s focus will remain on recovery and determining what comes next for one of the NFL’s all-time greats.
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This report used information from ESPN.
