The Dallas Cowboys handed the rival Washington Commanders a commanding 44-22 defeat on Sunday, bringing America's Team back to the .500 mark. It was a solid all-around performance from the Cowboys, especially on defense, where they were without cornerback Trevon Diggs, who missed Week 7 after an at-home accident led to a concussion earlier this week.
Diggs was often viewed as one of the NFL's top CBs early in his career, but a combination of injuries and regressing performances has left Dallas fans frustrated more often than not recently. Much to the veteran defender's dismay, his fate might be sealed now that the Cowboys proved that they were fine without him this weekend.
Trevon Digg's Fate Was Sealed by Cowboys' Strong Defensive Outing vs. Commanders
The Cowboys' secondary absolutely silenced the Commanders' aerial attack, holding the NFC East rival to 219 receiving yards and one touchdown on 16 catches. Yes, Washington was without top wideouts Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, and Noah Brown, but the fact that Dallas didn't fall for what could've been a trap game in Diggs' absence shouldn't be ignored.
The polarizing CB's outlook is also marred by DaRon Bland having his best game of the season. Not only was he electric in coverage, but he also recorded his first interception since 2023 as he returned a third-quarter pick 68 yards for a touchdown. Bland finally looked to be worth the $90 million investment that the Cowboys made in him, whereas Diggs isn't coming close to living up to his $96 million pricetag.
Regardless of how much time he misses moving forward, Diggs clearly can't afford to continue with the status quo. He's growing on Cowboys fans' nerves with each passing game, and continuing those struggles could potentially lead to an offseason divorce, proven by the options below, courtesy of Spotrac:
2026 | Dead Cap Hit | Salary Cap Savings in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Pre-June 1 Cut | $5,882,356 | $12,558,822 |
Pre-June 1 Trade | $5,882,35 | $12,558,822 |
Post-June 1 Trade | $2,941,178 | $15,500,000 |
Post-June 1 Trade | $2,941,178 | $15,500,000 |
If the Cowboys are done with Diggs after this season, a post-June 1 release or trade seems like the likeliest option. Yes, he was once among the NFL's premier cornerbacks, but he hasn't deserved that reputation in a while, and it might be time to realize that a fresh start is what both sides need before the situation worsens.
Hopefully, Diggs looks like his old self whenever he returns. Not only would that help improve any potential offseason trade value, but it would also help ensure that the Cowboys' secondary is as strong as it can be to stay afloat in the NFC playoff race.