Dallas Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy Addresses Loss of Trevon Diggs to Season-Ending Injury
Frisco, Texas – Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy has acknowledged the devastating loss of cornerback Trevon Diggs for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. Despite the setback, McCarthy remains optimistic about the team’s goals and believes that their defensive depth will step up to fill the void.
McCarthy expressed his sympathy for Diggs, stating, “Obviously, you feel sick [for] him. It’s definitely a punch to the gut for our football team, but this is an opportunity for our defensive depth to stand up and continue to move forward.” He revealed that he has had several conversations with Diggs since the injury, including one on Friday morning. The decision regarding surgery is yet to be made.
When asked if the team’s practice routine would be altered due to the injury, McCarthy responded, “When you see the video, it’s something that can happen anywhere. Two guys going for the football, and it looks like he came down and stepped on the foot of the wide receiver. This was not a drill issue at all.” McCarthy emphasized that the injury was an unfortunate accident and not a result of any negligence during practice.
The loss of Diggs is a significant blow to the Cowboys, but they have dealt with similar challenges in the past. Last year, they lost Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith to a torn hamstring during training camp, causing him to miss 13 games. In the season opener, quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a broken thumb that forced him to miss five games. However, the team managed to achieve a 4-1 record with backup quarterback Cooper Rush and finished the season with an impressive 12-5 record in 2022.
McCarthy highlighted the importance of team culture and locker room strength in overcoming adversity. He stated, “This is an example of what we’re talking about when we speak on culture, the strength of the locker room. It’s something that you’re going to have to deal with throughout the season. It’s part of the adversity to win a championship. The focal point really for us is really on Trevon, the person, because he needs our love and support, but this is part of the NFL. It’s definitely unfortunate.”
In terms of filling Diggs’ role, DaRon Bland is expected to move outside from the slot to play opposite Stephon Gilmore. Jourdan Lewis will also see increased action as the No. 3 cornerback. Bland, who led the Cowboys with five interceptions as a rookie last season and had a pick-six in this year’s season opener against the New York Giants, has previous experience as an outside cornerback.
McCarthy expressed confidence in Bland, stating, “Very confident in DaRon. If you look at his history here, whether it was to start on special teams or the opportunity to play in the nickel, the opportunity to play outside, he’s always stepped up and played. He’s very, very professional for a young player. This is another opportunity, and he’ll take the challenge.”
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones also weighed in on the situation during an interview on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. When asked about potentially adding a comparable corner to replace Diggs, Jones responded, “That’s like saying I want to be Tom Cruise. So the point is, you don’t replace these irreplaceable players.” The Cowboys currently have $8.7 million in salary cap room, but much of it is allocated for potential incentives and practice squad call-ups throughout the season.
Although losing Trevon Diggs is undoubtedly a setback for the Dallas Cowboys, Coach Mike McCarthy remains optimistic about the team’s ability to overcome adversity. With their strong team culture and depth on defense, the Cowboys are determined to continue pursuing their goals despite this unfortunate injury.