The Dallas Cowboys’ secondary was dealt a major blow Thursday as star cornerback Trevon Diggs underwent knee surgery that could keep him sidelined for a significant portion of the upcoming 2025 NFL season. Multiple sources confirmed that Diggs required a chondral tissue graft procedure to address a cartilage issue in his left knee joint.
The two-time Pro Bowler, who inked a lucrative five-year, $97 million extension with Dallas in 2023, now faces an arduous rehabilitation process. Insiders suggest Diggs may miss parts of training camp and potentially the early stages of the regular season as he works his way back to full strength.
Road to Recovery
Diggs’ procedure involved transplanting pieces of healthy bone and cartilage into the damaged area of his knee to restore joint function. The 26-year-old shutdown corner is no stranger to adversity, having successfully battled back from a torn ACL suffered in practice in 2023.
After an intensive rehab, Diggs returned to the field last season and showcased his elite playmaking ability over the first 10 games. However, lingering knee issues forced him to miss two contests before a valiant effort against the Bengals on Dec. 9.
Shutdown Corner Sidelined
Further testing ultimately revealed the extent of Diggs’ cartilage damage, leading to his placement on injured reserve to close out the 2024 campaign. Prior to the injury, the former Alabama standout racked up 44 tackles and a pair of interceptions in his 11 appearances.
Diggs’ $9 million base salary for the 2025 season became fully guaranteed as a result of the injury.
Depth Chart Concerns
The Cowboys must now confront the daunting possibility of being without their elite cover man for a sizable chunk of the upcoming season. After leading the league in interceptions in both 2021 and 2022, Diggs has established himself as the linchpin of Dan Quinn’s defensive unit.
- Next Men Up: Dallas will likely turn to youngsters Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright to fill the void opposite veteran Anthony Brown.
- Free Agent Options: The Cowboys could also explore the free agent market for affordable veteran depth to bolster their secondary.
As Diggs begins the long road to recovery, the Cowboys are holding out hope that their defensive superstar can defy the odds once again and return to shutdown form sooner than expected. The timetable remains uncertain, but one thing is clear – a healthy Trevon Diggs will be key to Dallas’ championship aspirations.
