FRISCO, Texas — After not playing over the last eight weeks, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs expects to return Sunday night.
“I’m ready,” he said after Friday’s practice. “It’s definitely been hard (not playing) because, of course, you want to get back out there. But people feel how they feel, and you just gotta roll with the punches and keep pushing forward.”
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones wasn’t as certain about Diggs playing against the Minnesota Vikings when asked Friday afternoon.
“We’re gonna make that decision tomorrow,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “We have another day of work. Coach (Brian) Schottenheimer has been real clear, as has (defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus), in terms of evaluating the full body of work for the week, and we’ll make that decision tomorrow.”
Jones said he expects Diggs to return at some point this year.
“But obviously there’s a certain standard that Coach Schottenheimer and his staff are looking at with him,” he added. “And certainly for him to play the type of defense we want him to play and play the corner position the way we want him to play it, he needs to be out there practicing, which he has been, and be diligent in the meetings and have good practices.”
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs pic.twitter.com/5s7DbZhfH6
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 11, 2025
Diggs was dealing with a knee injury when he suffered a concussion at his home in October. He was then placed on injured reserve. He returned to practice on Nov. 30. He has been a limited participant in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Sunday night on the injury report.
When team officials have been asked about his potential return, they’ve mentioned Diggs needing to do better in other areas beyond his work on the field.
“He’s still in the ramp-up period,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said this week. “I think he does feel healthy. I know he wants to play. But at the end of the day, we have to do what we think is in the best interest of not just him, but also the football team. And when you miss some time, there’s the ramp-up period. It is not just for your body, but for your mind and figuring out some of the defense, and there’s some new faces in the huddle and things like that. So again, love him as a player, but ultimately he’s got to show us he’s ready to do everything the right way.”
What does doing everything “the right way” mean?
“Everything,” Schottenheimer responded. “Consistency through everything. He’s no different than Dak Prescott or Jake Ferguson or Kenny Clark. Just continue to do everything the right way. Thought last week was a good first step, and hopefully this week is an even better step, and if it is, then you’ll see him out there.”
Diggs is one of the Cowboys’ highest-paid defenders. He signed a five-year, $97 million contract extension in July of 2023. In his first three seasons, Diggs was a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro, recording 17 interceptions in 45 games. But in his three seasons since signing the deal, Diggs has recorded only three interceptions and played in only 19 games because of multiple knee injuries.
While recovering from a knee injury this past offseason, Diggs had $500,000 deducted from his salary for failing to meet workout participation requirements at the team’s headquarters.
Depending on how the rest of the season plays out, the Cowboys could choose to move on in the offseason. Diggs has a 2026 base salary of $14.5 million. According to Over The Cap, designating Diggs as a pre-June 1 cut would count for $5.8 million in dead cap money.
Diggs said Friday that he wants his future to be in Dallas.
“Yeah, of course,” he said. “I love Dallas. But, you know, at the end of the day, it’s a business. Whatever happens, happens. I’m prepared. I’m ready for it. I would love to be here. I love everything that comes with Dallas, the fans, the relationships I’ve built here. But if that’s not what it is, that’s just not what it is.”