OCTOBER 25: It turns out Dallas will be placing Diggs on IR, per Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS. The starting corner missed last week’s game with a concussion and will now miss at least four more before he’ll be able to return to the active roster. WFAA’s Ed Werder conveyed that “residual problems with (Diggs’) right knee” is what prompted the move to IR. Taking advantage of the absence already caused by the concussion, the Cowboys want Diggs to take the time to get healthy.
To supplement the secondary, the Cowboys have called up cornerback Corey Ballentine — signed a month ago — as a standard gameday practice squad elevation. The team’s other elevation will be running Malik Davis.
OCTOBER 24: Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Broncos due to a concussion suffered at home that sidelined him last week.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Friday afternoon (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) that Diggs was still in concussion protocol and unlikely to play in Denver but added that talk of an injured reserve placement was premature. Schottenheimer also said that the team had more details about how the injury happened but added that it would be something for Diggs to address.
A few hours later, however, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 103.5 The Fan (via NFL Network’s Jane Slater) that Diggs would not play in Week 8. Jones then revealed that the team was looking into placing Diggs on IR, partially because he is also dealing with a knee injury, per All City DLLS’ Clarence Hill.
That would sideline the veteran cornerback for at least four games. Dallas’ Week 10 bye means that Diggs’ earliest return would come in Week 13 if he’s placed on IR before Sunday’s game. He would have plenty of time to clear concussion protocol and get his knee back to playing shape after undergoing surgery in the offseason.
The Cowboys may also benefit from clearing a roster spot. They opened three practice windows for players on injured lists this week and will need room on the 53-man roster in the next three weeks. Diggs might come back two weeks later, but having an extra roster spot for a month might be crucial for a Cowboys team that could still win the NFC East.
Rookie cornerback Trikweze Bridges will likely join Kaiir Elam and DaRon Bland in the starting lineup in Week 8 as he did in the Dallas’ last game. He would also be in line to take over the starting job until Diggs comes back.
Diggs’ continued injury woes are a primary reason that the Cowboys could move on from him in the offseason. He has no guaranteed money on his deal past 2025, per OverTheCap, with $56MM due over the next three seasons. Dallas has an expensive roster, and getting Diggs off the books would allow give them more flexibility to retool their roster next year.