When the Dallas Cowboys waived two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs just days before their season finale, the “next man up” mantra became a reality check. With pride on the line and a chance to avoid back-to-back losing seasons hanging in the balance, Dallas needed answers at cornerback. They found one waiting in the wings.

As per The Athletic‘s Jon Machota, Josh Butler has been activated from injured reserve ahead of Week 18 against the New York Giants.

For Butler, the activation represents a long-awaited return to action. The cornerback hasn’t stepped on an NFL field since suffering a season-ending knee injury following his breakout performance in November 2024. That injury, a torn ACL, sidelined him for the entire 2025 campaign until now.

Before going down in Week 13 (incidentally against the Giants), Butler showed promise in limited action last season. In Week 12 against the Washington Commanders, he was an unstoppable force, logging 12 tackles, and a sack to make his case. His film from that breakout game caught the Cowboys’ attention, and the franchise kept him on injured reserve with hopes of a 2025 late-season return.

The Cowboys didn’t stop with Butler, though. To shore up depth across the roster, Dallas made several additional moves on Saturday. Running backs Malik Davis and Javonte Willams, along with guard T.J. Bass were placed on the IR. In corresponding moves, linebacker Justin Barron was signed from the practice squad, running back Phil Mafah was activated from the IR, and offensive lineman Nick Leverett was elevated to provide some coverage.

Mafah’s activation alongside Butler signals Dallas’ intent to evaluate young talent before the offseason. The rookie RB had already impressed during the preseason before being sidelined with a shoulder injury. Now he gets his first regular-season opportunity if he can shake off the questionable status.

Meanwhile, Diggs has already landed on his feet. The Green Bay Packers claimed him off waivers on New Year’s Eve, reuniting him with former Cowboys teammate and close friend Micah Parsons. Diggs can now play playoff football while Dallas watches from home. That’s a reality that has not gone amiss with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones.

Jerry Jones reflects on the Trevon Diggs era

When the Cowboys decided to part ways with Trevon Diggs, it raised inevitable questions. Why waive a former All-Pro right before the season finale? Jerry Jones addressed those questions during his recent appearance on 105.3 The Fan, offering his perspective on the cornerback’s departure.

“I thought Trevon had one of the most impressive beginnings in pro football and with the Cowboys that I’ve ever been associated with,” Jones said. “I personally think that there are things that Trevon did back when he first came in the NFL that he physically has been compromised with to do.”

Diggs’ best year notably came in 2021, when he had 11 picks (including two pick-6s) for 142 yards. But since 2023, things haven’t gone his way. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2023. That was followed by another season-ending IR placement last season for another surgery on the same knee. And then this season, he has battled a concussion and knee soreness. That 2021 explosiveness? Gone. Jerry Jones then drew a striking comparison, likening Diggs to Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

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“One of the things he could do is just something similar to what Deion Sanders could do,” Jones explained. “Deion could make a mistake, or he could bait a player, and then he had the burst to make up for it and go back and make the play and get the ball. Certainly, Diggs had that early.”

Jones continued praising Diggs’ natural instincts and ball-hawking ability. But the past-tense throughout Jones’ comments didn’t go unnoticed. While his tone remained respectful, the implication was clear: the Cowboys believe Diggs’ best days are behind him. And then, of course, came the contract extension Dallas had handed him in July 2023.

“He deserved to be paid (in 2023),” Jones continued. “That production, injury-wise or otherwise, has fallen of. There’s a lot of reasons for it. But I wish him well.”

The Cowboys have moved on. Butler now represents a peek at the future, however uncertain. If his knee holds up against the Giants, he could earn a longer look heading into 2026. Beyond Week 18, a new season with younger players like Butler and Mafah potentially playing larger roles awaits Dallas. For now, The Cowboys can only control what happens Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Beyond that, it’s a rebuild.