Zack Martin to Miss Remainder of 2024 NFL Season Due to Ankle Surgery
In a significant blow to the Dallas Cowboys, veteran guard Zack Martin will miss the rest of the 2024 NFL season. Head coach Mike McCarthy announced the decision, confirming that Martin will undergo surgery on his right ankle. "Zack is going to have season-ending surgery on his ankle," McCarthy stated, summarizing a decision that was reached unanimously by the team and medical staff.
Martin, an integral part of the Cowboys' offensive line, has been grappling with an ankle issue that traces back several years. The problem resurfaced during training camp and has plagued him through the current season. Despite efforts to manage the condition, the move to surgery was inevitable. "We started off a couple of weeks ago," McCarthy explained, "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."
At 34, Martin's career has been nothing short of stellar. With 11 seasons in the NFL, he boasts seven first-team All-Pro honors and nine Pro Bowl appearances. However, his performance metrics showed some signs of decline, as evidenced by Pro Football Focus grading his offensive play at 65.6 this year, a dip from his 94.2 grade in 2021. Furthermore, Martin allowed a career-high of five sacks in 2024, raising concerns about the impact of his lingering injury.
The Cowboys will undoubtedly feel Martin’s absence. "He's going to be missed. 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," McCarthy acknowledged, emphasizing Martin's role as a cornerstone of both talent and leadership. Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass have stepped into the breach, with McCarthy praising their efforts, "Those guys have worked hard. 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."
Martin, on the cusp of concluding his contract year, sidestepped discussions about his future, pointing instead to more immediate concerns. "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," he stated, putting the spotlight on recovery rather than impending career decisions.
Support from within the football community forms a crucial aspect of Martin’s coping mechanism. One such pillar of support is his long-time friend and former teammate, Travis Frederick, who has maintained regular contact amid Martin's ordeal. "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 enduring bonds formed on and off the field.
McCarthy also heaped praise on Martin, calling him "clearly a Hall of Famer. Not only for the way he plays but just first class," which mirrors the widespread respect and admiration Martin commands across the league. His absence certainly leaves a vacuum that the Cowboys will need to address as the season progresses.
In the heart of a challenging season, with Martin facing what will almost certainly be a long and arduous recovery process, the Cowboys must rally in his absence. The players stepping into the offensive line will carry the weight of maintaining the standards set by their veteran leader, while the team looks ahead to navigating the rest of the season without one of its key players.