Dallas Cowboys land a W without even playing on Sunday, but it carries some mystery with it
The Dallas Cowboys are trending toward welcoming back Trevon Diggs.
For most of the NFL, Sunday was gameday for Week 13 of the 2025 season. For the Dallas Cowboys, however, it was an important day for a different reason. It was the first day of practice ahead of their Week 14 matchup against the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football.
It is, once again, a game of utmost importance for the Cowboys, whose playoff hopes have been brought back to life after a 3-0 run headlined by victories over the two squads that played in Super Bowl LIX — the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
And based on the latest injury update, Dallas’ big week is already off to a strong start as it’s set to welcome back CB Trevon Diggs to practice. We’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of what the news means, but there’s no denying it’s a positive update. Not only could Diggs be an upgrade on defense, but worst-case scenario, he’s much-needed depth at one of the thinnest position groups on the Cowboys roster.
Though he’s had a controversial 2025 season thus far, getting him back is a good thing.
Trevon Diggs returns to practice on Sunday
It’s been a long few weeks for Diggs, but his 21-day practice window was activated by the Cowboys on Sunday as the All-Pro cornerback aims to return from a knee injury. Earlier in the season, Diggs also suffered a concussion in a “home accident.”
Though the decision to get him at practice doesn’t guarantee he’ll be activated to the 53-man roster before Thursday’s game, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he expects him to be on the field against the Lions.
If true, however, what can Cowboys fans realistically expect from Diggs? In all likelihood, a relatively limited role. I wouldn’t expect him to play the full game. For the most part, Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff has focused on taking it slow with players returning from injury. Even if he’s active, there’s a strong possibility Diggs would be on a pitch count.
But even more than that, can we expect Diggs to return as an immediate starter to Matt Eberflus’ defense even though, at some point this season, he was benched?
Will Diggs start when he returns?
Even when healthy, Diggs might not be in line to be an immediate starter. Keep in mind, he will likely not be at 100%. The Cowboys have publicly suggested he wasn’t physically ready for the season, and that was before another knee injury that landed him on IR. At one point this season, Diggs was benched briefly.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have been playing better defense since the bye week, partly because of the debut of third-round rookie Shavon Revel Jr., who is playing surprisingly well to start his career. If Dallas wants to keep Revel Jr. on the field, Eberflus needs to make a decision. Which of the following defensive backfield setups does he prefer?
- DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel Jr., Reddy Steward (Nickel)
- Shavon Revel Jr., Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland (Nickel)
- Trevon Diggs, Caelen Carson, DaRon Bland (Nickel)
- DaRon Bland, Caelen Carson, Reddy Steward (Nickel)
I don’t think it’s a given that Diggs gives you the best defensive backfield. Based on what we’ve seen in recent weeks, I’d prioritize playing Revel Jr. and Bland over all else. Where Bland lines up could depend on who they’re facing that week. At times, he’s lined up against tight ends, even. If he plays inside, Diggs or Carson make sense to complement the duo. If Bland takes an outside spot, Steward is your best choice at nickel.
But one thing is clear: Diggs returning as a full-time starter looks like a long shot at this point. Even still, his return feels like a win, even if it’s for depth initially.
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