The Dallas Cowboys were dealt a major blow when star cornerback Trevon Diggs suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee during Thursday’s practice. The injury occurred during a one-on-one period in practice, and Diggs was seen briefly inside the team facility on crutches before an MRI confirmed the tear.
Diggs’ injury is a significant loss for the Cowboys, whose defense is currently ranked No. 1 in the NFL in both yards allowed and points per game through two weeks. Since his NFL debut in 2020, Diggs has recorded an impressive 18 interceptions, tying him for the most in the NFL with J.C. Jackson of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Meanwhile, Cowboys Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz also suffered a hamstring injury during Thursday’s practice and is undergoing an MRI to assess the extent of the injury. As reported by Todd Archer of ESPN, source indicated that Biadasz is expected to recover to play against the Arizona Cardinals in their week 3 matchup.
Trevon Diggs Sidelined with Season-Ending ACL Injury: Impact and Adjustments
Diggs had a stellar start to the 2023 season, allowing just three catches for 31 yards on eight targets as the nearest defender in coverage, according to NFL Next Gen Stats data. Quarterbacks had a mere 9.9 passer rating when throwing in Diggs’ direction. He had also forced a fumble, intercepted a pass, recorded three pass breakups, and tallied six tackles in two games.
During training camp, Diggs signed a lucrative five-year, $97 million contract extension with the Cowboys, including a $21.25 million signing bonus and $42.3 million guaranteed. While he missed four games with a foot injury in 2020, Diggs had played in all but one game over the past two seasons.
With Diggs sidelined, the Cowboys have options to adjust their cornerback lineup, including moving DaRon Bland to the outside opposite Stephon Gilmore, acquired in an offseason trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Jourdan Lewis can return to his role in the slot after making a comeback from a significant foot injury last October, seeing 10 snaps in their previous confrontation.