Trevon Diggs uncertain to return in time – Cowboys scramble defensive plans, stirring fan buzz!

The Dallas Cowboys have been burdened by injuries to key stars over the past several seasons, and one player the team is eagerly hoping to see return to full form is ball-hawking cornerback Trevon Diggs.

But there are some obstacles here.

Diggs’ injury struggles began in 2023, when he suffered a torn ACL during a Week 3 practice, forcing him to undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season. His return in 2024 initially looked promising, as he performed at a high level and showed flashes of his Pro Bowl form. But his comeback was cut short once again after Week 14, when a cartilage injury in the same knee sidelined him for the rest of the year.

In January 2025, Diggs underwent a chondral tissue graft procedure to repair the damaged cartilage in his left knee. The recovery timeline was and is significant.

CowboysCountry.com has reported that he will miss training camp and possibly the start of the regular season; Diggs himself has said he is targeting Week 1 as his comeback date.

Adding to the uncertainty, Diggs did not participate fully in the Cowboys’ offseason program as he chose to continue some of his rehabbing in Miami, a decision that privately rankled some folks inside The Star, per our Mike Fisher.

Despite the absence, the Cowboys remain optimistic.

Coach Brian Schottenheimer recently provided an update, stating, “It’s going good. All signs are positive.”

Now, the key questions become: When will Trevon Diggs return? And what should the expectations be for his role in the Cowboys’ defensive backfield in 2025?

A return for Week 1 against the Eagles? Maybe. However, he is currently listed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he continues his recovery. If he remains on the list through the first regular-season game, he will be required to miss the first four games, making his earliest possible return Week 5 against the Jets on October 5.

Are there other options?

Our Cowboys insider Mike Fisher: “The savings from cutting him (which changes next spring) don’t outweigh the value of having him. A trade? Why would a team want to take him on now?

“That leaves one thing: Hope. That’s it.”

When Trevon does return, some may expect him to carry most of the workload, but that might not be the case. Despite losing cornerback Jourdan Lewis to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the defensive backfield remains strong enough (if not yet deep enough with proven bodies).

DaRon Bland has emerged as a star over the past three seasons, earning a First Team All-Pro selection and setting an NFL record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown in a single season in 2023.

The Cowboys are expecting a few young players on the back end to step up and make an impact in 2025. Rookie Shavon Revel Jr., a third-round pick out of East Carolina, has generated some preseason buzz as a potential fill-in for Diggs during his absence. Meanwhile, Caelen Carson, entering his sophomore season, is looking to bounce back after a challenging rookie year. The coaching staff is expecting big improvements from him as he’s also being relied upon to help stabilize the secondary.

While it remains uncertain whether Diggs will return before the season opener or sometime midseason, the two-time Pro Bowler is expected to play a significant role upon his return, not only as a major contributor on the field but also as a mentor to the younger talent in the Cowboys’ defensive backfield.

And waiting for that is the best “hope” Dallas has.