Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs stands on the sphere earlier than a preseason NFL soccer recreation in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders in Arlington, Texas, Aug. 26, 2023. Diggs injured a knee in observe Thursday, Sept. 21, and was set for an MRI to find out the severity of the damage. Credit score: AP/Sam Hodde
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys carried Tremendous Bowl expectations into the season and a had a protection enjoying on that lofty degree when star cornerback Trevon Diggs tore the ACL in his left knee in observe this week.
These expectation have not modified. The Cowboys consider they’ve the depth to beat the lack of the 2021 All-Professional who’s tied for the NFL lead with 18 interceptions since getting into the league three years in the past.
Dallas (2-0) visits Arizona (0-2) on Sunday, and the FanDuel SportsBook betting line of Cowboys by 12 1/2 hasn’t modified a lot, if in any respect.
“Clearly you are feeling sick about him, and it is undoubtedly a punch within the intestine for our soccer workforce,” coach Mike McCarthy stated Friday, the day after the damage. “However this is a chance for our defensive depth to face up and proceed to maneuver ahead.”
The day after his twenty fifth birthday, Diggs sustained the season-ending damage in a one-on-one drill in red-zone work. McCarthy stated Diggs got here down on a receiver’s foot when each gamers had been going for the ball.
“It is one thing that might occur wherever,” McCarthy stated. “This was not a drill concern in any respect, in no way.”
Dallas was simply the fifth workforce within the Tremendous Bowl period to attain not less than 70 factors and permit 10 or fewer within the first two video games, after beating each New York groups by a mixed rating of 70-10.
The Cowboys shut out the Giants 40-0 within the opener, and with one other shutout would set the NFL file for fewest factors allowed by means of three video games. Inexperienced Bay allowed 13 in 2001.
They will need to do it and not using a two-time Professional Bowler who tied the franchise file with 11 interceptions in 2021. He had his first of this season in opposition to the Jets final week. His jarring blindside hit within the opener on Giants working again Saquon Barkley led to an interception return for a landing by DaRon Bland.
Bland’s identify comes up rapidly on the dialog of changing Diggs. The second-year man is prone to begin reverse offseason free agent pickup Stephon Gilmore. Bland performed within the slot whereas Diggs and Gilmore dealt with the surface the primary two weeks.
“It is nonetheless a recreation I’ve at all times been enjoying,” stated Bland, who led the Cowboys with 5 interceptions as a rookie. “I have been enjoying on his aspect largely for this previous 12 months. So shifting again to the surface can be good. I’ve simply to obtained preserve my head straight.”
Jourdan Lewis, who made his season debut with 10 snaps final week after lacking most of 2022 with a damaged foot, could possibly be the primary choice within the slot.
Proprietor and basic supervisor Jerry Jones, showing on his radio present Friday, did not appear too eager on the concept of assist from exterior the group, not less than not proper now.
Whereas the pattern measurement was small, Diggs had an infinitesimal 1.0 passer ranking in opposition to, finest within the NFL, by means of two weeks.
“You’ll be able to’t try this,” Jones stated. “That’s simply not actual. That’s like saying, ‘I wish to be Tom Cruise.’ You don’t exchange these irreplaceable gamers.”
Nonetheless, Jones is assured the Cowboys can offset the lack of Diggs. Jones prompt Dallas can be at much less threat of giving up huge performs since Diggs has a playing fashion that helps create turnovers.
“That’s what makes him such a terrific participant,” Jones stated. “However Bland and other people we have now are available in right here might not have as a lot of a priority in regards to the dangerous play. So we might have a plus right here. Not an actual plus, however we might mitigate how dangerous this loss is.”
It is the third time in 4 seasons the Cowboys have misplaced a cornerstone participant to a long-term damage early. Quarterback Dak Prescott broke his ankle in Week 5 in 2020, when Dallas missed the playoffs.
Final season, left sort out Tyron Smith tore a hamstring throughout coaching camp and did not play till December. The Cowboys made the playoffs with a second consecutive 12-win season, shedding within the divisional spherical to San Francisco after a wild-card loss to the 49ers a 12 months earlier.
“It is a part of the adversity to win a championship,” McCarthy stated. “The point of interest for us is absolutely on Trevon, the individual, as a result of he wants our love and assist. That is a part of the NFL. It is simply unlucky.”
It is the third notable damage in observe for Dallas. Left guard Tyler Smith missed the primary two video games after straining a hamstring earlier than the opener. He’s anticipated to make his season debut in opposition to the Cardinals.
Heart Tyler Biadasz injured a hamstring in the identical observe during which Diggs went down. Biadasz did not observe Friday and is listed as questionable.
