Trevon Diggs was spotted leaving the locker room on crutches after practice on Thursday. The Dallas Cowboys cornerback was not listed on the team’s injury report on Wednesday. What does this mean for the Cowboys’ defense moving forward, and what is the extent of the injury?
Trevon Diggs Injury Update
Team reporter Nick Harris spoke with Dak Prescott about Diggs’ injury after practice.
“I’m not gonna speculate, way too early,” Prescott said. “I saw him leaving the field. Prayers and hoping for the best, simple as that.”
Sources tell PFN that Diggs was seen walking off the field under his own power, and a cart was not involved. Diggs is the fourth Cowboys player to get injured during practice since camp started.
It’s worth noting that the field the team practices on during the week is grass and not synthetic turf. Per reports, Diggs was practicing 1-on-1 drills when the injury occurred.
Diggs is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, and losing him would be a tough blow for a Dallas defense playing as well as anyone in the NFL right now. Although Diggs has been relatively healthy over the past few seasons, he did suffer a hairline fracture in his foot during a Week 9 matchup against Pittsburgh during his rookie season.
Dallas Morning News reporter David Moore tweeted that he spoke with two people with knowledge of the situation. They said that Diggs is having an MRI on his knee, which he injured during practice on Thursday.
Update 4:08 p.m.: Tom Peliserro and Ian Rapoport reported that the initial fear for Diggs is that the cornerback suffered a torn ACL. Minutes later, Peliserro confirmed the Cowboys’ greatest fears.
Update 5:35 p.m.: The Dallas Cowboys made the news official with a statement.
“Cornerback Trevon Diggs suffered a knee injury during today’s practice. A subsequent MRI confirmed a torn ACL. A timetable for Diggs’ return to play has not been established, but he is currently projected to miss the remainder of the current season.”
What’s Next at Cornerback for the Cowboys?
There are a few options on the roster for Dallas. The team acquired Noah Igbinoghene from the Miami Dolphins, who has experience playing on the outside. DaRon Bland has played most of his NFL snaps from the slot, but he has the size necessary to play on the outside, and the return of Jourdan Lewis leaves a viable option in the slot.
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The final option on the roster currently is rookie Eric Scott Jr. Nahshon Wright remains on injured reserve (IR) at the moment.
In the end, the Diggs injury, no matter the severity, should not have a catastrophic impact on the Cowboys’ defense. They have waves of pressure defenders ready to pounce on opposing quarterbacks, a stable of safeties that can play all over the field, and another outstanding cornerback on the outside in Stephon Gilmore.
However, Diggs’ injury likely limits how aggressive Dan Quinn will be in coverage. There’s likely to be less man played on the back end without Diggs, who is one of the best in the league matching receivers from an off-man alignment.