Former Alabama cornerback clears hurdle toward playing again

Published On: August 26, 2025

The Dallas Cowboys announced on Sunday that former Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs had completed his physical and was added to the active roster after being listed as active or physically unable to perform.

Diggs had chondral bone graft surgery in January after missing six games due to a knee ailment last season. Since the beginning of training camp, he has been placed on the PUP list, which has prevented him from participating in team practices.

Diggs can start working out with his teammates after joining the active roster. It also puts him on track to be one of the 53 players on the Cowboys’ active roster at the start of the regular season.

During the preseason, each NFL team may have up to 90 players on its roster; but, by 3 p.m., that number must drop to 53 active players. Tuesday, CDT.

Players on the regular-season PUP list must miss at least four games, and the list is inactive/PUP.

On September 4, Dallas takes on the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL’s opening game of the 2025 regular season.

Diggs stated that he didn’t anticipate being prepared for the Week 1 game in a video titled “To My Fans,” which was posted on his YouTube account on Wednesday.

“I think it will be about a month before I’m ready to go out there and perform,” Diggs stated. When it comes to running, cutting, jumping, and performing my DB exercises, I feel good. You know, everything feels normal again. All I have to do is get a bit stronger. This month, I feel like I’m going to dedicate myself solely to training with Myron (Flowers), my personal trainer, in order to maintain my strength throughout the season. That’s my strategy, then. Getting stronger is my plan for the upcoming month.

Additionally, I plan to return by Week 2 or Week 3 at the latest. I have that as my goal, you know. My calendar has it circled, so I need to make sure I do everything in my power to make that happen for me.

On September 14, the Cowboys will play the New York Giants in their second game.

Diggs, who was selected by Dallas in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, led the league in interceptions with 11 in 2021 and was selected to the first team All-Pro. Before injuries hampered his last two seasons, he was recognized for the Pro Bowl once more in 2022.

Diggs agreed to a five-year, $97 million contract extension in July 2023. However, Diggs only participated in the first two games of the 2023 season before missing the remainder of the season due to a damaged anterior cruciate ligament. Diggs missed six of the Cowboys’ final seven games due to an injury to the same knee that occurred last year.

Diggs’ basic salary for the 2025 NFL season was lowered by Dallas from $9 million to $8.5 million in July.

Diggs’ contract said that he had to spend at least 84.375 percent of the Cowboys’ offseason program at their facility or risk having his pay cut by $500,000. Diggs was rarely present outside of the three-day required minicamp, opting to work with doctors and personal trainers instead of Dallas staff members for his rehabilitation.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer commended Diggs’ efforts on Saturday to get back on the field.

“If I didn’t mention how hard Trevon has been working, I would be remiss,” Schottenheimer said. He’s doing a fantastic job with Britt (Brown), the Dallas director of rehabilitation. If he doesn’t invest the time and energy to complete the tasks he has been performing, these things won’t occur. quite pleased with him.

In his YouTube video, Diggs explained the rehabilitation procedure.

“I feel like it’s been a lot of work physically,” Diggs remarked. To get back to where I want to be and return to the field, I put in a lot of work and hours.

It’s a procedure, you understand? Maintaining discipline and putting in the necessary effort each day is necessary to go where I need to go. I am grateful for the effort, even if it has been a lot of labor. It has been nice, and I have simply been loving the work because I embrace it. having genuine faith in the process and enjoying it.