The Dallas Cowboys have made a significant roster move, releasing their star cornerback Trevon Diggs, according to an ESPN report. This decision ensures the 27-year-old defensive back will not play for the team in Week 18 of the NFL season.
The Path to Free Agency
Trevon Diggs is now subject to the NFL waiver process. If he goes unclaimed by other teams during this period, he will immediately become an unrestricted free agent. Unlike players released in the offseason, Diggs would not have to wait until the new league year in March to sign with a new club. He can secure a deal with any team as soon as the regular season concludes.
A Lucrative Deal and On-Field Performance
This move comes just a year after Diggs inked a massive contract extension with the Cowboys. In 2023, he signed a five-year deal worth $97 million, which included $33 million in guaranteed money. This contract was a reward for his exceptional performance in the 2021 and 2022 Pro Bowl seasons, where he recorded a remarkable 14 interceptions, including an NFL-leading 11 picks in 2021.
However, his production saw a dip afterwards. Since that stellar 2021 season, Diggs has managed only five interceptions over 37 games across four seasons.
A Season Marred by Injury and Mystery
The 2024 season has been difficult for Diggs, marked by a prolonged and somewhat mysterious absence. He played the first six games before being sidelined. The issue began with a concussion that Diggs said he sustained in a household accident.
Diggs explained in the locker room that a television mounting pole attached to a ceiling fell and hit him on the head. "I was trying to be a handyman," Diggs admitted. "I shouldn't have been."
This concussion was followed by what the team described as a knee issue. Diggs has undergone surgery on his left knee twice in the past two years. The eight-game absence this season brought his total to 29 missed games since the start of 2023.
First-year coach Brian Schottenheimer was vague about the long delay in activating Diggs from injured reserve, citing a need for more consistency in practice. Team owner Jerry Jones maintained that Diggs' knees were simply not healthy enough for him to return to play.
Internal Tensions and Disciplinary Action
The drama during the season was preceded by offseason friction. The Cowboys withheld an offseason workout bonus from Diggs because he chose to rehabilitate from his second knee surgery with his personal athletic training staff instead of the team's. Furthermore, Schottenheimer briefly benched the cornerback early in the season due to an unspecified disciplinary issue.
This development in Trevon Diggs' career comes on the same day as troubling news involving his brother. Reports surfaced that Stefon Diggs, a wide receiver for the New England Patriots, has been charged in Minnesota with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery. Stefon Diggs has denied the charges, and the Patriots have issued a statement acknowledging the situation. He remains on the team's roster at this time.
