Dallas Cowboys starting cornerback Trevon Diggs risks losing $500,000 of his $9 million base salary due to a contract clause tied to attending at least 84% of the team’s offseason workouts, according to a source familiar with his contract, as reported by The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday. Despite his presence at the first day of the mandatory three-day minicamp, Diggs’ prior absences may prevent him from meeting the clause’s requirements, potentially costing him a significant portion of his salary.
The Cowboys have not yet decided whether they will enforce the salary deduction. Diggs, who is recovering from a complex left knee surgery, has been rehabbing away from the team’s facility at The Star, opting for a location where he feels more comfortable. While team officials have not publicly criticized his decision to train elsewhere, Diggs has remained in contact with team doctors and was seen working with Britt Brown, the Cowboys’ director of rehabilitation, during the minicamp.
Diggs, who walked onto the field to observe Tuesday’s practice, is reportedly progressing in his recovery. “Doing good, same thing,” said coach Brian Schottenheimer. “Came in for a re-check, doing good, and we’ll figure out when we get to training camp. There’s still a big window of time between now and when we get out there. He’s hitting the markers he needs to hit.”
The 2021 NFL interception leader with 11 picks, Diggs suffered a torn ACL early in the 2023 season. He returned for the start of the 2024 season but reinjured his left knee, missing the final six games. Following a chondral tissue graft surgery to replace damaged cartilage, his return date remains uncertain.
Teammate and defensive end Micah Parsons, a close friend of Diggs, shared insight into the cornerback’s challenges. “It’s extremely difficult for Diggs,” Parsons said. “I actually had to fly out there to check on him. He was like, ‘Bro, you got to come visit me.’ I think he was getting a little bit lonely. I went out there to check on him, man, and the things I felt like he wasn’t doing, I got on him, and the things that he was doing, I support him.”
Despite his limited play over the last two seasons—appearing in just 13 games with three interceptions—Diggs remains one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks. His attendance at the minicamp, expected to continue for all three days, demonstrates his commitment to the team, even as his recovery and contract situation remain in focus.