Markquese Bell injury update: Report reveals status of Dallas Cowboys safety

According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell is out for the remainder of the 2024 season. Bell reportedly suffered a dislocated left shoulder during a special teams play Monday night against the Texans, potentially requiring surgery.

Dallas will now have to navigate without one of its top special teams players and a key depth piece on defense in their final seven games.

“S Markquese Bell will miss the rest of the season with a dislocated left shoulder that may require surgery, per multiple sources,” Archer said via X. “Special teams coordinator John Fassel became emotional when talking about Bell Tuesday, knowing the severity of the injury and the loss for the unit.”

As Archer mentioned with his report, Fassel did get emotional when speaking on the injury Tuesday afternoon in front of the media. The special teams coordinator was holding back tears, talking about what it meant for Bell to be out there playing.

“Yeah, that one hurts,” Fassel said. “He’s played as good of special teams ball through 10 games as I can remember. He got hurt doing what he does best, just flying in there and diving. He’s gonna be okay, but gosh. I spend so much time with these guys in meetings and on the practice field and on the game field. The emotions of going undrafted and wanting more and accepting his role and thriving in his role. I’m hurting for him, because he was on a mission. He was as good as we’ve had in a while.”

Bell is a third-year player out of Florida A&M and has been in a few roles for Dallas over the past two seasons. When the Cowboys were thin on defense in 2023, Bell stepped up and played just over 60% of snaps. Some of those were even a linebacker when the position had a few injuries of their own.

This go-round has been more about special teams, logging 168 snaps with the unit. Fassel will have to find somebody else to fille the role thanks to season-ending surgery.