The Dallas Cowboys officially released cornerback Trevon Diggs on Tuesday, ending his tenure with the team a game prior to the close of the season. This decision concludes a difficult period for Diggs, whose initial promise following an All-Pro 2021 season featuring 11 interceptions has significantly waned.
With the Cowboys holding a 7-8-1 record and already out of playoff contention for the second consecutive year, the move to waive Diggs came five days before the team’s last game against the New York Giants. Following the waiver process, Diggs will enter free agency.
At the start of the season, Diggs returned to play earlier than anticipated in the season opener, having recovered from his second major knee surgery within two years. However, after participating in six games, Diggs suffered a concussion while at home on October 16, a detail he revealed only after a two-month delay, describing it as an accident involving a mounting pole while trying to install a television.
Although he completed the concussion protocol, Diggs did not resume playing due to ongoing knee-related concerns. Ultimately, he missed eight games in total during the season. Cowboys’ head coach Brian Schottenheimer mentioned the necessity for Diggs to demonstrate consistency in practice sessions and meetings to earn a return to the field. Team owner Jerry Jones mentioned explicitly that Diggs was not medically fit to participate towards the end of his absence.
According to an individual familiar with the situation who spoke anonymously due to the team’s silence on the matter, the decision to waive Diggs before the season finale was not prompted by a single incident. Instead, it resulted from a combination of on-field performance issues and off-field concerns, and was deemed beneficial both for Diggs and the Cowboys.
The team’s management had withheld a workout bonus in Diggs’ contract last offseason as he opted to rehabilitate his knee with personal medical professionals. Early in the current season, Schottenheimer benched Diggs without providing detailed explanations. This sidelining, along with the withheld bonus, hinted at a strained relationship between the player and the organization.
While Diggs’ future with the team seemed uncertain, an injury to fellow starting cornerback DaRon Bland, who sustained a season-ending foot injury two weeks prior, briefly altered the scenario. Diggs returned for two additional games following Bland’s injury, including the activation just before the deadline that would have forced the team to retain him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
Financial considerations also played a role, as Diggs was viewed as a candidate for release in a cost-saving move after signing a $97 million contract extension three years prior. The final game against the Giants will mark the 30th contest Diggs has missed since the start of 2023.
Despite leading the league with 11 interceptions in 2021 - the highest since Everson Walls had 11 interceptions in his rookie year in 1981 - Diggs has recorded only five interceptions over 38 games since that standout season.