DECEMBER 20: Diggs is expected to undergo bone graft surgery, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports. That procedure carries a longer recovery timeline than other surgical options, but it likely offers the best outcome in the long run. Moore notes a timeline is not in place with respect to when Diggs’ operation will take place, but in any event he faces a lengthy rehab process.

DECEMBER 16: Trevon Diggs‘ impending surgery won’t only knock the Cowboys cornerback out for the remainder of the 2024 campaign. During an appearance on 1053 The Fan, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones admitted that Diggs likely wouldn’t be available for at least the start of training camp. Jones also confirmed that Diggs was playing through significant pain before suffering another cartilage issue.

[RELATED: Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Set To Have Season-Ending Surgery]

“He was having to play with fluid in his knee,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “He was out there doing everything he can because he wants to play, he wants to compete, he wants to contribute. … But unfortunately he [suffered] a new injury that has to do with cartilage. It’s certainly a very legitimate injury that’s gonna take him some time to recover from. … I don’t think he’ll be a player during training camp. I think his timeline is going to be right about the start of the season.”

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is a bit more definitive with his timeline, noting that Diggs’ recovery could take up to eight months. That would keep the cornerback off the practice field until at least August, and depending on his required ramp-up period, Diggs could be forced to miss the early part of the regular season.

Rapoport clarifies that Diggs will undergo “surgery to repair an issue related to his articular cartilage.” We’ve already learned that this latest injury isn’t related to the player’s ACL tear from the 2023 campaign. In his comeback season in 2024, Diggs battled a torn calf while also missing two recent games with designations of groin and knee injuries. With his latest season-ending ailment, Diggs’ 2023 and 2024 campaigns will see him combine for 13 total appearances.

The Cowboys are surely hoping the former second-round pick can return to his dependable, All-Pro form, as Diggs is currently in the first year of his five-year, $97MM extension. The defensive back is only a few years removed from his prolific 11-interception season, and his 2022 follow-up was just as productive. In his limited looks over the past two years, sites like Pro Football Focus (subscription required) haven’t been as fond of his performance, but we could attribute the downturn to his lingering injuries.

9:53pm: As the mainstream media catches up with the early reports, we have begun to collect more information about the nature of Diggs’ injury. According to Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, “Diggs is dealing with a knee cartilage issue.” In recent weeks, the 26-year-old reportedly experienced some swelling, leading to further evaluations and the eventual decision to shut him down for the remainder of the season.

2:39pm: The Cowboys cannot seem to escape the bad injury luck this season. The newest example of this sees cornerback Trevon Diggs set to undergo season-ending knee surgery, per Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. While several reports have been made detailing the Cowboys’ decision to downgrade Diggs to “out” for this week, Glazer and ESPN’s Todd Archer seem to be the only ones at the moment reporting on the potential surgery.

The former-second round pick out of Alabama is in his fifth year of NFL play and the first year of his five-year, $97MM extension. The highly touted defensive back earned first-team All-Pro honors in his sophomore campaign and Pro Bowl honors in both 2021 and 2022. His most prolific season in 2021 saw him lead the league in interceptions (11), interception return yards (142), and interceptions returned for touchdowns (2).

Diggs has not been able to replicate that insane production in the years since and the analytics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has never favored him as one of the league’s best at the position, unlike his teammate DaRon Bland, who had a prolific season of his own just last year. Another limiting factor of late has been a difficulty for Diggs to remain on the field. Diggs missed nearly all of last year with a torn ACL. This season, he has battled a torn calf while also missing two recent games with designations of groin and knee injuries. Archer claims that the surgery to repair his ACL tear from last year has held up and that the new surgery is unrelated.

With the surgery, Diggs is likely to join the 12 other players Dallas has on injured reserve including key contributors like defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Sam Williams, guard Zack Martin, and, of course, quarterback Dak Prescott. That’s not to mention players like Bland, wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who recently found their way off of IR.

The Cowboys don’t have much left to fight for in the 2024 NFL season. While they haven’t yet been eliminated from the playoffs, they likely would need to win out and expect some help from others in order to get to the postseason. With the likelihood of a playoff appearance seeming extremely low, it makes sense not to force players back who may end up needing surgery and time to recover. The team has yet to disclose the specifics or severity of Diggs’ knee injury, but per Ed Werder of WFAA, it appears to be significant.

The injury is a disappointing one for Dallas, who just recently saw Bland return. In the last two years, the Cowboys have only seen Bland and Diggs on the field together for three games and only one in which they both started. Like last year, Bland will pick up the immediate slack of Diggs’ absence, while the team will continue piecing together the solution at the other cornerback position.

Jourdan Lewis has started nine games, but he plays primarily in a nickelback role. Rookie fifth-round pick Caelen Carson had started five games but currently resides on IR, himself. Reserves like Josh Butler, Amani Oruwariye, and Andrew Booth will likely be relied upon as injuries continue to decimate America’s Team.

Trevon Diggs‘ run on his second Cowboys contract has not gone especially well. The former All-Pro cornerback entered this season after an extensive rehab effort, one stemming from an ACL tear suffered during an early-season practice last year. Diggs now looks likely to miss more time.

The fifth-year player has not practiced this week, and Jerry Jones said during his latest 105.3 The Fan appearance (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) that a calf tear is behind the absence.

While it appears Diggs will not play against the Falcons on Sunday, Jones’ news drop comes after the highly paid cover man played 99% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps in Week 8. Diggs returned from his ACL rehab during training camp, being activated off the active/PUP list. He has played in all seven Cowboys games this season. That said, Jones added (via Machota) he is not sure Diggs will miss the Atlanta contest. Though, three DNPs often signal an absence. Diggs’ Friday status has not been determined yet.

Jones’ refusal to rule out Diggs comes as DaRon Bland, whom the Cowboys activated off IR this week, is still experiencing pain in his surgically repaired foot. Bland suffered a foot fracture during camp, and while he had progressed to full practices, the 2023 All-Pro — who moved to the outside position after Diggs’ September 2023 injury — has not practiced this week. Bland is back on Dallas’ 53-man roster, as he would have been shuttled to season-ending IR had the Cowboys not made that activation this week.

The Cowboys gave Diggs a five-year, $97MM extension before training camp last summer. Diggs, 26, made it through two games before the knee injury ended his season. The former second-round pick, who had become the first player to reach the 11-INT mark in a season since the Cowboys’ Everson Walls did so in 1981, has cultivated a boom-or-bust reputation at corner. This season, Pro Football Focus has the Alabama alum slotted 95th at the position.

Boom-or-bust also accurately labels the Cowboys’ 2020s run at corner. Each of the team’s current top three (Diggs, Bland, Jourdan Lewis) has sustained a significant injury in the recent past, with Lewis going down with a Lisfranc injury deemed career-threatening. The Cowboys also missed on second-round pick Kelvin Joseph and did not re-sign Stephon Gilmore this offseason; the Dallas one-and-done CB landed in Minnesota.

The Cowboys, who sit 3-4 as their offensive and defensive units rank outside the top 20, also have not seen Micah Parsons return to practice. The All-Pro edge rusher has missed three games with a high ankle sprain. DeMarcus Lawrence remains on IR with his Lisfranc issue.

Trevon Diggs‘ 2023 campaign came to an unexpected end. The Cowboys’ highest-paid corner suffered an ACL tear during a September practice, sidelining him and leaving the team shorthanded in the secondary.

The 25-year-old is making progress in his recovery. To little surprise, though, Dallas will take a cautious approach with him in terms of usage during this offseason. It remains to be seen if Diggs will be available once training camp begins in July.

“Maybe,” the former second-rounder said when asked about his training camp readiness (via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News). “Maybe not. But I’m feeling comfortable. I feel good.”

Diggs’ injury left the Cowboys notably thin at the cornerback spot even with Stephon Gilmore playing at a high level and DaRon Bland enjoying an historic season in terms of pick-sixes. The latter is still on the books for two more years, but the former is among the most high-profile players still on the open market. Gilmore has expressed a willingness to re-sign in Dallas, but little movement has been seen in his case this offseason.

Even if the former Defensive Player of the Year lands elsewhere in free agency, expectations will be high for the Cowboys after they ranked fifth in the NFL in passing yards against last season. A healthy Diggs would certainly help the team given his status as one of the league’s top ballhawks. The Alabama product has racked up 18 interceptions and 52 pass breakups in 47 games, figures which helped him secure a five-year, $97MM extension last summer.

Three other Cowboys – linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, tight end John Stevens and receiver David Durden – also suffered ACL tears last year. Like Diggs, their respective rehabs are progressing with an eye on a patient approach from the team’s perspective. Diggs is nevertheless currently in a good place with respect to his recovery.

“We’ll respect the timeline, but Trevon looks great,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “He’s in a good spot…. As far as when he gets back, let’s be honest, we’re going to be very cautious with those guys. We’re not going to put them out there too soon. Better later than too fast.”

If Diggs is not fully recovered by the beginning of training camp, he will be a candidate for the active/PUP list. Players can be activated from that list at any time during the summer, and the point at which the Cowboys do so with Diggs (if necessary) will be a key storyline to follow.