The Cowboys can not appear to flee the unhealthy damage luck this season. The latest instance is cornerback Trevon Diggs, who is set to undergo season-ending knee surgery, per Jay Glazer of FOX Sports activities. Whereas a number of studies have been made detailing the Cowboys’ determination to downgrade Diggs to “out” for this week, Glazer appears to be the one one at present reporting on the potential surgical procedure.
The former second-round pick out of Alabama is in his fifth year of NFL play and the first year of his five-year, $97M extension. The extremely touted defensive again earned first-team All-Professional honors in his sophomore marketing campaign and Professional Bowl in 2021 and 2022. His most prolific season in 2021 noticed him lead the league in interceptions (11), interception return yards (142) and interceptions returned for touchdowns (2).
Diggs has not been in a position to replicate that insane manufacturing in years since, and the analytics at Pro Football Focus have by no means favored him as one of many league’s greatest, in contrast to his teammate DaRon Bland, who had a prolific season of his personal simply final yr. One other limiting issue these days has been Diggs’s issue remaining on the sector. Diggs missed practically all of final yr with a torn ACL. This season, he has battled a torn calf whereas lacking two latest video games with designations of groin and knee accidents.
With the surgical procedure, Diggs will probably be part of the 12 different gamers on injured reserve, together with key contributors like defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Sam Williams, guard Zack Martin and quarterback Dak Prescott. That’s to not point out gamers like Bland, huge receiver Brandin Cooks and defensive finish Marshawn Kneeland, who not too long ago discovered their manner off IR.
The Cowboys don’t have a lot to battle for within the 2024 NFL season. Whereas they haven’t but been eradicated from the playoffs, they probably have to win out and anticipate some assist from others to get to the postseason. With the probability of a playoff look seeming extraordinarily low, it is smart to not pressure gamers again who may have surgical procedure and time to get well. The crew has but to reveal the specifics or severity of Diggs’ knee damage, however it appears to be significant per Ed Werder of WFAA.
The damage is disappointing for Dallas, who just recently saw Bland return. Within the final two years, the Cowboys have solely seen Bland and Diggs on the sector collectively for 3 video games and just one by which they each began. Like final yr, Bland will choose up the rapid slack of Diggs’ absence whereas the crew will proceed piecing collectively the answer on the different cornerback place.
Jourdan Lewis has began 9 video games however primarily in a nickelback function. Rookie fifth-round choose Caelen Carson had began 5 video games however at present resides on IR. Reserves like Josh Butler, Amani Oruwariye and Andrew Booth will probably be relied upon as accidents proceed to decimate America’s Staff.
