In a move that’s sure to send ripples across the league, the Dallas Cowboys have activated star cornerback Trevon Diggs from injured reserve, marking his triumphant return to the field after a frustrating 10-week absence. The former Alabama standout and 2021 All-Pro is set to bolster the Cowboys’ secondary just in time for their matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, and the rest of the NFL should take note—this shutdown defender is back and ready to make plays.
Diggs, who has been sidelined since October 25 due to a concussion from a home accident and lingering knee soreness, missed the team’s last eight games. Despite the Cowboys’ slim playoff hopes, the decision to bring him back underscores the organization’s faith in his game-changing abilities. Under NFL rules, players on injured reserve must be activated within 21 days of returning to practice, and Diggs has been a limited participant in every session over the past three weeks. The Cowboys had no choice but to activate him on Saturday or risk losing him for the remainder of the season.
The 26-year-old cornerback expressed his readiness after Dallas’ recent 34-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, stating he felt healthy enough to play after just two weeks of practice. However, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones pushed back on that timeline, opting for caution. Now, with Diggs cleared, the Cowboys’ defense gains a proven ball hawk whose presence could disrupt opposing offenses in the final stretch of the season.
Unfortunately, Diggs’ return comes at a cost. In a corresponding move, the Cowboys placed fellow cornerback DaRon Bland on injured reserve due to a foot injury that will sideline him for the rest of the year. Bland, who earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2023 after leading the NFL with nine interceptions (returned for 209 yards and five touchdowns), leaves a significant void. His absence shifts even more responsibility onto Diggs and the rest of the secondary.
Diggs’ career has been a rollercoaster of highs and injury setbacks. Selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Alabama, he exploded onto the scene in 2021, leading the league with 11 interceptions and earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods. He followed that up with another Pro Bowl selection in 2022, but injuries have plagued him since. In 2023, a torn ACL limited him to just the first two games. Last season, a knee injury caused him to miss six contests, leading to chondral bone graft surgery in January. Despite starting the current season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list until August 24, Diggs managed 329 defensive snaps in the Cowboys’ first six games.
With Dallas’ playoff chances hanging by a thread—the team needs to win out while hoping the Philadelphia Eagles drop their final three games—Diggs’ return injects a spark of optimism. The Cowboys’ secondary, once a strength, has been tested this year, and getting a player of Diggs’ caliber back could be the difference in spoiling someone else’s postseason dreams.
The NFL is on alert: Trevon Diggs is healthy, activated, and poised to remind everyone why he’s one of the most electric defenders in the game. Cowboys fans, buckle up—this could be the start of a late-season surge.
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