'Wow, I am truly again': Trevon Diggs' yearlong journey to show he is over his ACL and nonetheless elite

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs could not assist himself. Feelings have been pouring out earlier than the season opener in opposition to the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 8.

Diggs was wrapped in a hug with assistant head coach Al Harris, who’s extra mentor than coach. His helmet and face masks coated his eyes, however his head was buried on Harris’ shoulder as they swayed forwards and backwards.

Three-hundred-fifty-three days earlier, Diggs had limped off the follow subject, understanding his left knee was badly injured. The humid September air was sucked out of the Cowboys’ follow as a result of everyone knew what was coming just a few hours after he had an MRI.

He was recognized with a torn left ACL that might finish his season.

Now, on an ideal September day at Cleveland’s Huntington Financial institution Discipline, only a quick throw from Lake Erie, it hits Diggs, who shouldn’t be recognized to point out his emotions.

“I did not really feel it till I used to be truly on the market,” Diggs stated. “It was, ‘Wow, I am truly again.’ Yeah, it was emotional for me.”

After a lot time away — a lonely journey to show he was nonetheless probably the greatest cornerbacks within the NFL and worthy of the Professional Bowl standing he held earlier than the damage — Diggs confirmed he was not solely again, it was as if he had by no means left.

With 9:06 left within the fourth quarter and the Cowboys main by 23 factors, Diggs intercepted a Deshaun Watson cross that went via Elijah Moore‘s palms.

Take it away, Tre 🚫@TrevonDiggs | @AlabamaFTBL

Up subsequent ➡️ #NOvsDAL 9/15 on FOX pic.twitter.com/1XOosxUmbC

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 9, 2024

It was Diggs’ nineteenth interception in 48 profession video games. He’s considered one of 13 gamers with no less than that many picks of their first 48 video games. Since 2021, his 16 interceptions are probably the most within the NFL — regardless of sitting out 15 video games final season due to the damage.

Nearly as good because it felt to get the ball again in his palms, Diggs later skilled the alternative emotion.

In final week’s 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Cowboys wanted a cease to tug off an inconceivable 22-point comeback, however he was unable to forestall a 9-yard completion to Zay Flowers on third-and-6.

“That was s—ty on my half,” Diggs stated. “I received to make that play regardless. That is on me.”

However being on the sector and on the point of play on the New York Giants on Thursday (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) is healthier than the place he was a 12 months in the past, awaiting surgical procedure.

THE JOURNEY BACK from an damage could be lonely. Gamers go to what plenty of Diggs’ teammates consult with as “darkish locations.” Not two months earlier than he was damage, he signed a five-year extension value $97 million that made him one of many highest-paid cornerbacks within the NFL.

The video games went on and Diggs turned one thing of a forgotten man.

Earlier than this season started, ESPN requested coaches, entrance workplace executives and scouts for his or her top 10 cornerbacks within the NFL. Diggs was not included, in all probability due to his damage, listed solely as an honorable point out. In ESPN’s survey in 2023, he was eighth. In 2022, a 12 months after he had 11 interceptions, he was tenth.

When he was requested in coaching camp if he drew motivation from that, Diggs playfully requested what the listing stated, however he already knew.

“I really feel like I am in a league by myself,” Diggs stated when he was taken off the bodily unable to carry out listing in late July. “There’s no one can do what I do.”

He talked about DaRon Bland, who led the NFL with 9 interceptions final season and set a league document with 5 pick-sixes. Bland has not performed this season due to a stress fracture in his left foot and was additionally not among the many prime 10 corners, although he did obtain some votes.

“We do not care about no listing,” Diggs stated. “Our work will present on the sector. [If] you’ll be able to pull one other DB on that listing that did something that we did, present me.”

That is as animated as Diggs will get publicly. Even with Diggs’ celebrity standing on the Cowboys, Micah Parsons calls him shy. They’re one thing of an odd couple of their approaches. Parsons will speak about something and all the pieces to anybody. Diggs is extra content material to remain within the background.

As Diggs went via the rehab course of, Parsons typically went to his home. He tried to maintain Diggs’ spirits up throughout the longest absence he has had from the sport. They competed in video video games and Join 4. At coaching camp, they performed ping pong.

A number of occasions they simply talked soccer.

That is the place Parsons discovered Diggs’ spirit.

“Movie room, on his personal. Places within the further. He do not search for credit score from others. He does not should be right here to point out it,” Parsons stated. “I could be calling Tre at 7:30, saying, ‘Why aren’t you on the sport?’ He is like, ‘Bro, I am at Sanders [Fit Rehab and Therapy]. I am getting further therapy on my knee.’ I am like, ‘Oh snap, hit me once you get house.’

“So he is leaving right here, going to get further work on his knee to ensure he is ready. So it is the issues that nobody else has to see. That is type of like who he’s and who he is turn out to be.”

Diggs places in loads of work to grasp how opposing quarterbacks and receivers are going to assault him.

“He’s undoubtedly a savant of this sport,” fellow cornerback Jourdan Lewis stated. “He understands this sport, and I actually assume he is a genius at it, actually. When he is in true kind, I really feel like he is probably the greatest defensive gamers within the sport. It is superb to see.”

HARRIS PLAYED 14 years within the NFL for 4 groups, together with a seven-year run with the Green Bay Packers, with whom he gained a Tremendous Bowl. He has been an NFL assistant coach in all however one season since 2013 and was named the Cowboys’ assistant head coach within the offseason.

When he talks about Diggs, Harris mentions his Corridor of Fame teammate Charles Woodson and the flexibility to reflect a receiver’s route.

“Tre has an uncanny skill to catch the flash of the ball. So, so far as my job, it is to get him to only get the right reads, simply let him go from there,” Harris stated. “And I believe the genius facet of it’s from there. … He runs routes. And it has been a very long time since you’ve got seen a defensive participant run routes as a defensive participant.”

To get there, Diggs research a quarterback’s three-, five- and seven-step drops to know what routes to anticipate. He research the splits the receivers absorb sure down and distances and is aware of he can eradicate some routes. He understands route combos. From a easy stance, he can know what a receiver desires to do.

“I have been within the league for, what, 5 years now?” he stated. “So I am type of accustomed to the sport and know the sport velocity.”

The interceptions will not be an accident.

“Lots of people assume he is simply going on the market guessing, leaping at stuff, but it surely’s a technique to the insanity,” Lewis stated. “I respect it. I can see it from a mile away — he prepares like no different.”

Diggs peppers Dak Prescott with questions throughout the week and jaws on the quarterback on the follow subject. Prescott stated Diggs’ background as a receiver (two-time All-Washington D.C. Metro choice, performed WR early on at Alabama) helps him at cornerback.

“He understands stems, breaking factors, these issues,” Prescott stated. “After which he trusts himself. I believe on the finish of the day, once you play that place and you’ve got the expertise that he has, you need to belief your self.”

After a torn ACL and months of rehab, that belief must be rebuilt. Can he plant and take off the best way he did earlier than? Will the knee maintain up? Can he change route immediately or is there an additional transfer to get into the best place?

By means of three video games, it is there. Simply because it was earlier than the damage.

“Simply all of the work I put in offers me confidence,” Diggs stated. “I really feel comfy.

“And I really feel higher than what I used to be earlier than.”