Dallas Cowboys fans are used to Jerry Jones calling it the way he sees it by now, as his approach has remained the same from the team's best moments to its worst.
With Dak Prescott set to return from injury for the start of the 2025 campaign, Jones hs every reason to feel good about the outlook of his offense under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. The same cannot be said about a key member of the Cowboys' defense, however.
Trevon Diggs enters the season coming off yet another knee injury and Jones may have shared a bit more than he would have liked when addressing Diggs' rehab.
“We have a good idea," Jones said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. "He’s working hard. That’s very important because if he will be very good and diligent in his rehab process then he’ll get back quicker. And when he does get back, he’ll be sounder. If he has not worked as hard, he is more subject to injury. He’s learned that one time.
"I have a lot of hope that his actual rehab and experience from the time before is really helping him out. I think it is.”
This has been perceived as a shot at Diggs by the owner of the Cowboys. At face value, it is understandable how the comments from Jones would be taken that way. Whether Jones outright said it or not, there were clearly some thoughts regarding the way Diggs attacked his rehab following his first knee injury in 2023.
With Diggs under contract through the 2028 season, Dallas needs him as healthy as he can be so that he is on the field contributing for the full 17-game schedule. Could Jones have worded things differently in this case? Almost certainly. This is the way Jones operates though and Diggs needs to be used to that by now.
Sometimes it is best to just listen to the words that are said and not focus as much on the manner in which they were delivered. This could be a good lesson of just that for Diggs and the rest of the Cowboys roster.