“Emotional Comeback: Trevon Diggs Returns to the Field After ACL Injury”
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs couldn’t contain his emotions before the season opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 8, Hugging assistant head coach Al Harris, who acts as a mentor to him, Diggs rested his head on Harris’ shoulder, his helmet obscuring his face as they stood together.
Nearly a year earlier, Diggs had left practice with a serious left knee injury. The team’s mood darkened as they awaited the inevitable: an MRI confirming a torn ACL, ending his season.
Now, on a perfect September day at Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field, near Lake Erie, the reality of his return hit him.
“I didn’t feel it until I was out there,” Diggs said. “It was like, ‘Wow, I’m really back.’ It was emotional.”
After a long recovery to prove he remained one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks and deserving of his Pro Bowl status, Diggs showed he was back—almost as if he never left.
With 9:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Cowboys up by 23 points, Diggs intercepted a pass from Deshaun Watson that slipped through Elijah Moore’s hands. It marked his 19th interception in 48 games, putting him among an elite group of 13 players to achieve that many interceptions in their first 48 games. Since 2021, Diggs has recorded 16 interceptions, the most in the league, despite missing 15 games last season.
As satisfying as it was to make the interception, Diggs faced disappointment in the Cowboys’ 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens the following week. Needing a stop to complete a comeback, Diggs couldn’t prevent a 9-yard completion to Zay Flowers on third-and-6.
“That was on me,” Diggs admitted. “I’ve got to make that play.”
Still, being on the field, preparing for Thursday’s game against the New York Giants, is a significant improvement from where he was a year ago, awaiting surgery.