FRISCO — Friday was a warm and comfortable day at The Star for Cowboys practice. Players wore white helmets and their uniform jerseys. Some players had blue sweats or blue shorts or uniform pants cut-offs.
Then there was Trevon Diggs.
The Cowboys’ corner had the jersey and the helmet together but wore white shorts with white compression leggings.
In some ways, it was a symbol of how Diggs and the Cowboys have acted around each other: They just can’t get together.
Cowboys
Diggs is officially on injured reserve, sitting in the late stages of his 21-day practice window, which expires next week.
Diggs isn’t playing because of knee soreness. He also had a concussion that delayed his progress from playing. But with a game on Sunday night looming against the Minnesota Vikings, Diggs said he expects to play.
He said he feels 100%.
Whether the Cowboys feel that Diggs will actually play is uncertain.
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For the last few weeks, Cowboys officials, from team owner Jerry Jones, coach Brian Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, contend Diggs is holding himself back from playing unless he displays a level of consistency in all areas of his football life.
That could be showing up on time for meetings. Showing up for scheduled rehab sessions. Working hard in practice. Understanding the scheme.
Until team officials see enough of that, Diggs will continue to wait his time before being activated from injured reserve.
When told about what team officials are saying on Friday, Diggs rolled his eyes.
“I think everybody is obligated to their own opinion,” he said. “That’s it. I feel good.”
To be clear, Cowboys officials, especially Schottenheimer, have praised Diggs’ abilities on the field. They just want him to be more consistent.
For a majority of the season, the Cowboys endured health issues with the cornerback position. On Sunday night, the possibility of having their three best corners on the field in DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel and Diggs is just another boost this team needs in its quest to win the final four games of the season.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) walks on the field after warming up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 in Chicago.
Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer
Of course, winning the final four games of the year doesn’t guarantee a playoff spot, given the Eagles’ 1 1/2 game lead for first in the NFC East.
Diggs’ return, expected from his perspective, only adds to the year-long storyline that’s been a back-and-forth between the organization and their best cornerback.
Schottenheimer said Diggs has had a good week of practice leading into Friday’s session.
“No. 1, I don’t just talk about it with Trevon, I talk about the word consistency a lot, I think it’s my favorite word and I use it with you guys,” Schottenheimer said. “Why? Because to sustain success and to win in this league over time you need to be consistent. It just means doing things right, all the time, that’s everybody, not just about Trevon.”
A final decision is almost near.
“We’re going to make that decision tomorrow,” Stephen Jones said in a Friday radio interview on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM). “We have another day of work and I think coach Schottenheimer has been real clear as has coach Eberflus in terms of evaluating the full body of work for the week and [we’ll] make that decision tomorrow.”
This whole season with Diggs, from the team docking $500,000 of his base salary before the start of the season because he didn’t rehab enough at The Star, questions about how he suffered a concussion, his handling of rehab work and his own concerns about the defensive scheme this team employs, leads you to believe he doesn’t have a future with the Cowboys.
He’s signed through 2028. Next spring, the Cowboys can designate Diggs as a post-June 1 cut, saving $15.5 million.
But that’s the future, a place Diggs said he doesn’t think about.
“I know who I am,” he said. “I know what I’m capable of and I know what I can do. I’m not having a crisis or nothing. I know how to play football. I know what skill set I have. It’s all about showing it and putting it out there and making those plays that I know I can make.”
The way the Cowboys have talked about Diggs, you also question whether they want him around to finish the 2025 season.
“I feel like he will,” Stephen Jones said.
The Cowboys say they want Diggs to be consistent because when he does that, he’s a dynamic playmaker. Diggs feels he’s doing everything he can to be consistent.
Two parties just trying to get on the same page.
“I love Dallas but at the end of the day, it’s a business,” said Diggs, who said he wants to remain with the Cowboys. “Whatever happens, happens. I’m prepared, I’m ready for it. I would love to be here. I love everything that comes with Dallas, the fans, the relationships I’ve built here. But if that’s not what it is, that’s just not what it is.”
Twitter/X: @calvinwatkins
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