Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin will undergo season-ending ankle surgery, head coach Mike McCarthy announced Thursday. Will Martin return to the Cowboys in 2025, or will he elect to retire?
Zack Martin Out For The Season
The future hall of famer, Zack Martin, is undergoing season-ending ankle surgery. Another huge loss for the Cowboys.
Martin was also just named Dallas’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.@FOX4 #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/Ab7lRoy5BC
— Jeff Kolb (@JeffKolbFOX4) December 5, 2024
Martin’s 2024 season is done. Martin appeared in 10 of the Cowboys’ 12 games and played over 80% of the snaps in nine contests.
Since being picked in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Martin has been arguably the best guard in the NFL.
Martin’s impressive list of accomplishments includes seven First-team All-Pros, two Second-team All-Pros, nine Pro Bowls, and a spot on the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team.
Martin came into this season contemplating retirement, and the injury may factor into his decision to walk away. McCarthy did not hint at Martin’s retirement, saying the guard wants to focus on the surgery first and foremost.
“I think just like anything you just have to take a step back and deal with one thing at a time,” McCarthy said on Thursday via NFL.com. “That frankly was the conversation that Zack and I had. The focus is really about the surgery, what’s next.”
If this is it for Martin, he will one day be an NFL Hall of Famer.
Dallas Cowboys 2024 Outlook
#Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy on Zack Martin requiring season-ending ankle surgery: “I think, clearly, a Hall of Famer — not only for the way he plays, but just first class; he just commands a lot of respect…Guy puts the team first. I mean, he's been a joy to work with.’’ pic.twitter.com/hzpXtoEcOG
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) December 5, 2024
After the Texans blew out the Cowboys on Nov. 18, Dallas has won two consecutive games to get to 5-7.
The postseason remains a long shot. Per NFL.com, the Cowboys have a 3% chance of making the playoffs, which increases to 6% with a win in Week 14.
The Cowboys host the Bengals in Week 14 on Monday Night Football.
