The December 20th deadline is fast approaching, but the answer regarding Trevon Diggs’ future with the Dallas Cowboys seems painfully clear. While the star cornerback publicly declares he is “ready to play,” owner Jerry Jones insists he is “not healthy enough to be out there.” This public contradiction is more than a simple dispute over an injury status; it is the final sign that the relationship between Diggs and “America’s Team” has reportedly “soured and been severed.” It appears that even with the Cowboys clinging to a 1% playoff hope, they are no longer willing to bet on their former All-Pro who signed a $97 million megadeal.
The crisis reached its peak as both sides made opposing public statements. Trevon Diggs, after being activated from the Injured Reserve (IR) list, told reporters plainly: “I’m ready.” However, just days later, “the boss” Jerry Jones shut down all hope with a definitive statement on camera: “Diggs isn’t healthy enough for us to put him out there, OK?”
This divide is not accidental. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz revealed the relationship had been fractured for some time, partly due to the Cowboys deducting $500,000 from Diggs’ salary because he chose to rehabilitate his injury away from the team’s facilities. Once trust is lost, all declarations about health or readiness become meaningless.
The Cowboys’ seemingly cold decision stems from a harsh reality: the 5-year, $97 million contract they gave Diggs before the 2023 season is becoming one of the worst deals in franchise history.
Since inking that massive extension, Diggs has been mostly absent from the field:
2023 Season: Suffered a torn ACL, missing almost the entire year.
2024 Season: Underwent another knee surgery.
2025 Season (Current): Played only 6 games (Weeks 1-6) before suffering a “mysterious” at-home injury in October. In those 6 games, his stat line was 0 interceptions and 0 pass deflections, with a Pro Football Focus grade of just 58.7—ranking in the lower tier among cornerbacks.
In total, Diggs will have missed 32 out of a possible 47 games since signing his big contract. For a team facing a salary cap crunch and needing a rebuild, retaining a high-cost, low-performance, low-reliability asset like this is unthinkable.
With playoff odds at just 1% (rising to only 2% with a win over the Chargers), the Cowboys are looking toward the future. Playing Diggs now, with the season essentially decided, is pointless and risks an unnecessary injury.
The logical exit, both financially and for team sport, will come in the spring of 2026. According to his contract structure, if the Cowboys release or trade Diggs before June 1, 2026, they will save $12.558 million against their salary cap for that season. This money could be used to find a new starting cornerback or bolster other weak positions.
Trevon Diggs’ story with the Dallas Cowboys is a modern NFL tragedy: from a shining star, the 2021 All-Pro with 11 interceptions, to a massive financial albatross in the blink of an eye (and a torn ACL). When the trust between player and team is shattered, when the statistics and the salary cap no longer justify his presence, a divorce becomes the inevitable outcome.
The December 20th deadline is likely just a formality. The real farewell between Trevon Diggs and the Cowboys was foretold long ago, written by endless absences on the field, public criticisms, and a mega-contract turned millstone. The Cowboys’ new season will likely begin by wiping clean one of the most expensive ink stains in their ledger.