The Dallas Cowboys held their first practice of training camp in Oxnard, California, on Thursday without cornerback Trevon Diggs.
The Cowboys had a list of players coming off injuries, but the former Alabama defensive back was the only one who received the physically-unable-to-perform designation to open training camp. Diggs cannot practice while on the PUP list.
Two games into the 2023 season, Diggs tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at practice on Sept. 21 and missed the remainder of the campaign.
Dallas had three other players coming off torn ACLs — linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, tight end John Stephens Jr. and wide receiver David Durden – while defensive tackles Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa and tight end Luke Schoonmaker also had to be cleared for training camp after injuries. But all passed their physical examinations and can practice.
Diggs can return to practice as soon as he receives medical clearance.
“We’ll work those guys in,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said on Thursday. “Trevon’s obviously on PUP, so those guys will be on a limited schedule. Just want to be smart. Obviously, we’re in a ramp-up phase here.”
Diggs joined the Cowboys from Alabamain the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
In 2021, Diggs earned first-team All-Pro recognition as he intercepted 11 passes, the most in one season in the NFL in 40 years.
After Diggs reached the Pro Bowl again in 2022 and with the cornerback entering the final season of his rookie contract in 2023, the Cowboys signed him in July 2023 to a five-year, $97 million contract extension.
Dallas starts its three-game preseason schedule on Aug. 11 against the Los Angeles Rams and kicks off its regular-season slate on Sept. 8 against the Cleveland Browns.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
