Trevon Diggs is on schedule to return from an injury that robbed him of all but two games last season.
That doesn’t mean he’ll be cleared to open Dallas Cowboys training camp.
Diggs is expected to be placed on the physically unable to perform list later this week once the Cowboys report to Southern California, a person with knowledge of the player’s status said. That designation comes as no surprise since the cornerback is just nine months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL.
Club officials are operating under the belief that Diggs will be ready to play when the team opens the regular season against Cleveland on Sept. 8. Video of how good the Pro Bowl corner looks in his rehab have been posted on social media in recent days.
Diggs took an awkward step and torqued his left knee during a one-on-one drill in practice after the Cowboys’ 2-0 start last season. An MRI later that afternoon confirmed the tear. He underwent surgery in late October.
The former Alabama star joined the Cowboys as a second-round pick in the 2020 draft. He had 18 interceptions on his NFL ledger at the time of the injury to tie him for the league’s best mark in that span.
Diggs led the league with 11 interceptions in ‘21, equaling a mark that hadn’t been obtained in 40 years. He has been named to the Pro Bowl twice and according to Next Gen Stats, quarterbacks had a lower passer rating (63) against Diggs in his first three seasons than any corner in the league.
The Cowboys rewarded his performance by signing him to a five-year, $97 million extension in last year’s training camp.
While Diggs will open camp on the PUP list, club officials are optimistic that defensive tackle Mazi Smith (shoulder surgery) and tight end Luke Schoonmaker (hamstring) could be cleared to participate. Both will likely have their participation restricted when the team gets underway later this week.