Zack Martin hopes to play in Week 17 despite quad injury

The Dallas Cowboys had a rough outing on Sunday afternoon against the Buffalo Bills, getting whipped 31-10. Luckily for Dallas fans, they got some good news from their right guard, Zack Martin. He revealed in the post-game press conference that he initially thought he injured his knee. But he was relieved to find out that he had only injured his quad, according to Jon Machota. “I’m hoping this week, treat it and get it ready to go on Sunday. I feel good about that.”

Martin suffered an apparent leg injury in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills. After some knee-to-knee contact with a Bills defender, the veteran went down on the field before receiving further evaluation in the blue medical tent on the sideline. Dallas ruled the guard questionable to return with a quad injury then downgraded him to out after halftime.

T.J. Bass replaced Martin at right guard. Bass has started one game for the Cowboys this season. He filled in for Martin after the veteran suffered an ankle injury in Week 3.

Zack Martin signed a new contract at the beginning of 2023

Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Zack Martin officially ended his holdout in August, agreeing to a new two-year deal worth more than $36 million.

In the end, the six-time first-team All-Pro never wanted to leave Dallas.

By securing a new deal, Martin will earn more than $8 million of what he was to make in 2023 and ’24. Martin became the third-highest-paid guard in the league behind the Atlanta Falcons’ Chris Lindstrom and the Indianapolis Colts’ Quenton Nelson, who make $20.5 and $20 million respectively.

He will get $18 million through the remainder of his contract, ultimately giving him a raise of $8 million. In March, Martin agreed to a contract restructure that turned $11.8 million of his 2023 salary into a signing bonus, which cleared $8.8 million in cap space for Dallas.

Martin last signed a deal in 2018 for six years and $84 million. Although he has arguably been the best guard in the league over the last few years, others had surpassed him in average annual salary since then.

The Cowboys selected Martin with the No. 16 overall pick in the first round coming out of Notre Dame for the 2014 NFL Draft. In his first season, he was the only rookie to make the first-team All-Pro list. He was also the first Cowboys rookie to make it since 1969.

On3’s Nikki Chavanelle and Nick Geddes also contributed to this article.