OXNARD, Calif. — Trevon Diggs reported to 2025 training camp with his pockets roughly $500,000 lighter. That's because the Dallas Cowboys' front office opted to enforce a contractual clause that requires the All-Pro cornerback workout and rehab his surgically-repaired knee at the facility more this offseason than he eventually did.
Diggs was rehabilitating his knee the entire time, but in South Florida with a separate group of trainers. And while he understands the Cowboys' decision, he did admit it "hurt my feelings" because he "didn't expect it" — before smiling it away and delivering a drop the mic prediction for the coming season.
"I hopefully make it back in incentives," Diggs said.
He went on to detail his decision to recover and get back to form in Florida over Texas.
"They do a great job here," said the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback. "I just felt like it was in my best interest to go somewhere to get the full, undivided attention I needed — massages and the whole nine yards — to better and further my career, to make sure I'm good, ahead of schedule and that I can perform well. Like [when I tore] my ACL, I came back a whole two months earlier because of the work I put in during the offseason, off the field.
"My work is gonna show. What I put into it is gonna show on the field."
It's a decision fully supported by his best friend and arguably the best player in the NFL, Micah Parsons.
"At the end of the day, this is his business: his body," said the All-Pro pass rusher, standing beside Diggs, literally, at the podium. "His body is his equity. At the end of the day, if he's not available, what are they gonna do? Get rid of him. So he's gotta keep his body up to par."
The opening day press conference saw not only owner and general manager Jerry Jones join executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones go into detail regarding what they expect from Diggs from a leadership stance, but vehemently so.
Diggs took a moment to speak on that as well following the team's first practice, of which he's being held back from due to his addition to the PUP (physically unable to perform) list until he's medically cleared to take the field.
"Personally, I'm not a vocal leader," said Diggs. "I'm not gonna be screaming and yelling at guys. How I'm gonna lead is by what I do on the field, how I perform — practice hard and work hard. That's how I lead, in my way. I'm gonna continue to lead in my way. I'm not gonna change who I am or change how I am, or start talking and being a vocal guy.
"That's just not me. That's not who I am. But I lead in different ways. I feel like the things I do on the field and in practice show enough."
All told, it's a pivotal season for the record-setting former second-round pick who secured a multi-year extension before his battles with injury. And for a Cowboys' secondary that is arguably in dire straits at the moment, other than the presence of DaRon Bland, the sooner Diggs is ready to go, the better.
There isn't a target date at this moment, but he's already in the right space, mentally. .
"My mental is in a good place," he said. "Control what you can control. Nobody wants to get injured. It's just unfortunate that I've had injuries. … It's unfortunate I've had back-to-back injuries, but I'm in a great space.
"I'm being positive and I know, when I get on the field, what I'm gonna do, so I'm not really worried about that. It's just all about getting back on the field, staying healthy and, once I'm healthy, I'm gonna perform."
And, by the way, nothing that's occurred or been said recently involving him has made him any less thrilled to be in a Cowboys' uniform; and that was a point he made sure to get across cleanly and directly.
"I'm still happy here," he said. "I've got great teammates — my friends, my brothers. We check on each other. It's a tight group. I'm happy here."
