Good news coming out of the Diggs camp.
Trevon Diggs could be back at Cowboys practice as early as this week
After back-to-back Pro Bowl campaigns in 2021 and 2022, the first of which also resulted in a First-Team All-Pro selection, Diggs has appeared in just 13 games for Dallas over the past two seasons.
After tearing the ACL in his left knee in Week 2 of the 2023 season, the Alabama alum played 11 games for the Cowboys a season ago before missing a pair of contests with a groin injury. But in mid-December, it was announced that Diggs would miss the remainder of the season and would undergo surgery on that same left knee, which was never genuinely healthy to begin with.
As such, his status for the 2025 campaign has been up in the air for quite some time, and most believed that he would indeed start this season on injured reserve. But as head coach Brian Schottenheimer stated on Saturday, Diggs has been putting in the work, and it’s obviously paid off.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about how hard Trevon’s been working,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s doing an incredible job with Britt [Brown]. These things don’t happen if he’s not putting in the time and the effort to do the stuff that he’s been doing. Really proud of him.”
Again, there’s no guarantee Diggs will play against the Eagles. But the fact that he could return to practice at any time now is nothing but good news, especially given the state of the Cowboys’ cornerback situation.
Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has toyed with a number of different corner combinations throughout the preseason, even moving DaRon Bland into the slot at times, with Kaiir Elam, who’s looked great at times during camp, and Andre Booth getting a lot of reps on the outside.
One final set of takeaways from the preseason.
James Houston is a strong 53-man candidate
Defensive end James Houston didn’t sign with the Cowboys until July 22, two days after the team departed for Oxnard. Signing the former Detroit Lion made few waves nationally, but Cowboys Twitter has been vocal about him making the squad.Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
Houston finished the game with one sack and multiple pressure, showcasing his skills as a pass rusher.
The Cowboys have three former second-round picks at the position behind All-Pro Micah Parsons. Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, and Donovan Ezeiruaku all figure to be in the team’s 2025 plans. They also brought back DE Dante Fowler as another team veteran.
Dallas has traditionally kept a spot for a sixth defensive end but the defensive tackle situation could complicate things for Houston.
In order to make room for other players, these names could be out the door.
WR Traeshon Holden
Wide receiver was always going to be one of the toughest positions to crack on the Cowboys’ roster.
With CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, and likely even Jalen Tolbert locked into top roles, the battle came down to depth players trying to prove they could contribute on special teams and as situational targets.
Traeshon Holden, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon, gave a strong effort, but poor quarterback play didn’t help him separate himself from the competition.
Holden had a few nice moments in training camp practices and caught a couple of short passes during preseason action, but his lack of big plays compared to established players like Jalen Brooks or Ryan Flournoy likely leave him on the outside looking in.
Dallas values special teams versatility in its back-end receivers, and Holden didn’t flash enough in that area to warrant keeping him over proven contributors.
History repeats itself with La’el Collins.
The Dallas Cowboys are making somewhat of a surprising roster move as 53-man cuts draw closer.
Per reports from ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys are releasing veteran offensive tackle La’el Collins just a little over three weeks after signing him to a deal.
“La’el Collins is among the players being released by the Cowboys today, according to a source,” Archer wrote on X. “Collins, who started 71 games for the Cowboys from 2015-21, joined the team in training camp and played in three preseason games. Coaches praised his work with young OL, DL.”
After reuniting with Dallas ahead of the preseason, Collins made it clear how excited he was to be back with the Cowboys. He went undrafted in 2015 before signing with Dallas and playing a crucial role on the offensive line alongside franchise legends like Zack Martin, Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick.
The committee approach continues to produce question marks at the position.
It seemed like the Cowboys’ plan was to bring in several competitors and just see who rises to the top. A noble plan, for sure, and especially when Brian Schottenheimer is preaching about competition everywhere in his first year as a head coach.
However, we’re now through three preseason games and the running back situation is just as murky as it was before the first OTA.
Williams seems to be the most secure roster lock out of the bunch. He was the only one to not play a single snap in the preseason, and he’s routinely taken first team reps in practices. He posted 1,219 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, but that promise was cut short with an ACL tear in his second season. Williams led the Broncos in rushing yards with 774 the next year, but he fell out of favor with new head coach Sean Payton.
That led him to Dallas, where he appears to have locked up the starting job. Still, given his statistical instability, it’s hard to feel great about Williams after not seeing him in action with a star on his helmet.
