Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs’ drama is still unfolding. With one last game left as a starter with the Cowboys, which is against the Green Bay Packers, Diggs addressed his defensive coordinator. The coach replied calmly, addressing Trevon’s demand while also focusing on accountability.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was asked about Diggs’ complaints that he wanted more man-to-man coverage. Eberflus welcomed the issue of communication.

“I value everybody’s opinion. That’s important that you do that as a coach. And you listen. That’s important that you do that too.” Eberflus said. “We’re growing as a group. There’s improvement in the play. We just gotta keep growing as a group.”

Diggs, who’s been famous for ages for his physical brand of play and ability to jump receivers, desires a defense that allows him to press receivers in the facemask. And though Eberflus did not promise significant alterations, he also said Diggs’ view resonates highly throughout the locker room.

Diggs essentially stated that he was willing to get back on track. Regarding Eberflus, he reaffirmed his positioning and accountability.
“Rough week. I guess coach is holding me accountable. It’s cool. Back on track this week, ready to work” Diggs replied. “It’s not like we don’t have talent. We got to be in position. And I feel like once again positioned to do it… but it’s just all about being in position to make the plays.”

Diggs asked the Cowboys defense, in particular, to employ more man-to-man defense. It’s a style he has succeeded with in the past by letting his instincts and ball-handling skills attack quality NFL wide receivers. In Week 4, Diggs nearly pulled off a tough interception on a play that didn’t count because of a substitution penalty.

“I have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s not about what I want,” Diggs said later, understanding that though he has his own desires, it’s actually the team’s game plan that decides where he ends up on Sundays.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer complimented Diggs’ performance after the game. “I’ve been a little tough on Trevon, just in terms of the consistency and things like that. But man, I thought he played really well tonight. I’m proud of him. I’m proud of him. And, you know, again, it’s a similar type thing with other guys. I mean, it wasn’t just us picking on Trevon. And Trevon is a hell of a player.”

He appreciated how he stood up for the team against the Packers game, even when he was benched. The Cowboys’ defense does have issues. In the last four games, for example, they allowed Russell Wilson to score 450 yards and three touchdowns.

Trevon Diggs’ lineup drama

Diggs was held out of the lineup in the game against the Packers. NBC initially reported that the two-time Pro Bowl selection was held out of the lineup due to an in-house suspension for off-the-field reasons. It was Eberflus’ decision, and the coaching staff agreed to it as well.

Dallas finished tied with Green Bay at 40-40, a game that had people questioning if Dallas’ defense could have appeared any differently, for that matter, with Diggs in the starting lineup from play number one. That being said, the team now looks forward to next Week 5 matchup with the New York Jets, with Diggs most likely returning on the first-unit roster.

For the third time in his playing career, Diggs did not appear as a starting player. While he was to play a big role in the tie, his sub-snaps count was high. He played in 64% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps, the same percentage as counterpart cornerback DaRon Bland but lower than Reddy Steward and Kaiir Elam.

Questioned after the game whether he was surprised not to have started, Diggs was short but candid. ”Yeah, maybe,” he said. He proved that he is still a key member of Dallas’s secondary.

The Diggs saga carries the extra layer of complication that accompanies recent history. He has been unreliable from an availability standpoint since signing the five-year, $97 million contract extension. His 2023 season was cut short by a torn ACL, and persistent knee issues rendered extensive offseason surgery inevitable in 2024.

Other players within the company appeared to have wondered whether and when Diggs went totally overboard with his recovery process. Team owner Jerry Jones, however, put an end to rumors that the Cowboys were going to cut their all-star corner.

“There’s no ‘moving on to other guys,’” Jones said following the Packers game. “That last hit was picturebook and very important. I’m pleased with how Diggs played tonight.”

Entering Week 5 and the game against the Jets, the question will be if Eberflus is bringing even more of Diggs’ brand of play into the defense. If the Cowboys are able to strike some balance between player input and team style, they can maybe finally achieve the consistency they have been looking to get from their secondary.