Cowboys roster: Concern that Trevon Diggs will start the season on the PUP list

Could Trevon Diggs miss the start of 2025?

While the Dallas Cowboys have kept a relatively optimistic tone publicly regarding Trevon Diggs’ injury, sources close to the situation suggest the reality might be more complicated. Diggs, who suffered a torn ACL two seasons ago, is currently rehabbing for a cartilage surgery the cut short his 2024 season. There are signs that his recovery is not progressing as quickly as hoped.

Some within the organization fear that the injury could linger well into the 2025 season, raising concerns not just about his availability for training camp but also about his readiness for the early portion of the schedule.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said last week that there’s a “good chance” Diggs (knee) “may not be available” come Week 1, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

His explosive style of play, which relies heavily on agility and burst, makes a complete and confident return especially challenging after such a serious knee injury. This issue raises huge concerns for the cornerback position in Dallas, but also the monumental price tag Diggs carries after he was given a $97 million contract extension.

We had the chance to get a a clearer picture of the situation when we spoke with longtime Cowboys insider Mickey Spagnola who works deep inside The Star at Frisco. According to Spagnola, the expectation at this point is that Diggs could start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. If that holds true, it means Diggs would miss critical time ramping up in camp, time that’s essential for re-establishing chemistry with the defense and getting live reps.

More importantly, a stint on PUP during training camp could carry over into the regular season, potentially forcing him to miss games as the Cowboys open their 2025 campaign. While nothing is official yet, Spagnola’s take underscores that the situation may be trending in a more cautious, and possibly more prolonged, direction than the team has hoped.

If the team is feeling the same thing, you have to ask the question whether this changes the direction they will go during the draft, and is pick 12 going to be a cornerback? This season’s draft class at the cornerback position is less than ideal when it comes to depth and there’s a high demand for the position this year. With that being the case, along with issues of depth for Dallas, this could force the team to address the position early, putting calls for running back and wide receiver in doubt.

Spagnola did add some positive news on the injury front. He told us that Dak Prescott is looking healthy and strong, and also that Sam Williams has worked out all season and is looking strong, ready to take on the challenge of the 2025 season. He noted that both these players were the furthest along in terms of condition and health.