Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs suffers season-ending ACL injury in practice

Trevon Diggs – CC BY-SA

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs tore his ACL during Thursday’s one-on-one practice, effectively ending his season.

Following the injury, Diggs was briefly spotted at the team facility on crutches before the MRI later confirmed the tear. The team said he would likely miss the remainder of the season, including the Week 5 game against the 49ers on October 8.

“A timetable for Diggs’ return to play has not been established, but he is currently projected to miss the remainder of the current season,” the Cowboys announced in a statement.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Diggs allowed only three catches for 31 yards on eight targets as the closest defender in coverage this season. Quarterbacks had a 9.9 passer rating when throwing, with Diggs as the closest defender. He also forced a fumble, intercepted a pass, and broke up three passes while recording six tackles in two games.

Diggs signed a five-year, $97 million contract extension with the Cowboys during training camp. This deal included a $21.25 million signing bonus and $42.3 million guaranteed. Notably, He had missed just one game in each of the past two years after missing four games due to a foot injury in 2020.

Diggs’ absence affects Cowboys’ defense

The loss of Diggs is a significant blow to the Cowboys’ defense, which leads the NFL in yards allowed and points per game in the season’s first two weeks. Diggs has recorded 18 interceptions since his NFL debut in 2020, tying him with J.C. Jackson of the Los Angeles Chargers for the most in the league.

With Diggs sidelined, the Cowboys are expected to field DaRon Bland as an outside cornerback alongside Stephon Gilmore, whom they acquired in an offseason trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Bland, who led the Cowboys with five interceptions last season, scored a touchdown with an interception in the season-opening victory against the New York Giants.

Furthermore, the Cowboys have additional cornerback options, including Noah Igbinoghene — a 2020 first-round pick from the Miami Dolphins acquired earlier this month in a trade — and rookie Eric Scott. However, Nahshon Wright is on injured reserve with an ankle injury and can return to play in Week 5.