Trevon Diggs is back on the field for the Dallas Cowboys - and just in time. The star corner made his return in Sunday’s home finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, suiting up for his first game action in two months after suffering a concussion in an off-field accident. But this return isn’t just about one player getting healthy - it’s a key moment in a season full of shifting pieces for a Cowboys defense that’s been both dynamic and banged up.
The Cowboys had held Diggs out longer than expected, not just because of the concussion but due to ongoing concerns with his knees - most notably the left one, which has undergone two surgeries in the past two years. That knee has been a storyline in itself, even before the latest setback. Diggs had already surprised many by returning from offseason surgery in time for the opener, and he looked sharp in the first six games before the concussion sidelined him.
There were legitimate questions about whether we’d see Diggs in a Cowboys uniform again this season - or ever. The 2021 All-Pro is a potential cap casualty this offseason, and if he hadn’t been activated off IR on Saturday, his season would’ve been officially over. Instead, he’s back in uniform, and his timing couldn’t be more critical.
That’s because the Cowboys’ secondary took a serious hit with the loss of DaRon Bland, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Bland is dealing with a foot injury that may require surgery - his second in two seasons on the same left foot. He missed 10 games last year due to a stress fracture, and now he’s facing another extended absence.
Bland’s emergence in 2023 was one of the league’s biggest surprises. He set an NFL record with five pick-sixes in a single season and led the league with nine interceptions.
That performance earned him a $92 million extension in August, but injuries have slowed him down ever since. By the end of this season, he’ll have missed 15 of the last 34 games, with just one interception to his name since that breakout campaign.
So Diggs’ return isn’t just a feel-good story - it’s a necessity. With Bland out and the secondary in flux, Dallas needs its former ballhawk back in form.
Diggs, who led the NFL with 11 interceptions in 2021 - the highest total since Everson Walls’ rookie season in 1981 - was rewarded with a $97 million extension in 2023. That deal signaled the team’s belief in his long-term value, but injuries have made that investment a complicated one.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys were also without defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on Sunday. He was inactive after suffering a concussion 10 days ago in a loss to Minnesota and is also dealing with a neck issue. This was the first game Williams has missed since Dallas acquired him in a midseason trade with the Jets back in November.
With key pieces missing and playoff implications looming, Sunday’s game marked more than just a return for Diggs - it was a test of the Cowboys’ depth and resilience. The defense has been a cornerstone of Dallas’ identity in recent years, and getting Diggs back, even at less than 100%, could help stabilize a unit that’s been dealing with more than its fair share of adversity.