As has been expected for a good while, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs is reportedly set to be placed on the physically unable to perform list ahead of this Wednesday's start of training camp, per The Dallas Morning News.
Diggs, who is rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered last September, won't be taking the field with the team early on but is eligible to be activated as soon as he passes a physical. The question now becomes how patient will the Cowboys in getting back to the field.
Keep in mind, Michael Gallup and Terence Steele's return from torn ACLs didn't go quite as the team hoped, so expecting them to be extra cautious with the man they signed to a five-year, $97 million deal in 2023.
While the news of Diggs not being ready to go just yet isn't great to hear, it does present several Cowboys players with a bigger opportunity for reps early on in Oxnard, California.
Going into the season, the Cowboys don't have a clear-cut CB4 behind the starting trio of Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Jourdan Lewis. Here's a look at the rest of the team's depth at the position, in no particular order:
- Nahshon Wright
- Eric Scott Jr.
- Josh Butler
- Caelen Carson (rookie)
- Josh DeBerry (UDFA rookie)
- Gareon Conley
- Israel Mukuamu (CB/S)
Everyone on the above list will be worth monitoring but there are three players that stand out the most: Scott Jr., Carson, and Conley.
- Eric Scott Jr: The Cowboys traded up for Scott Jr. in last year's NFL Draft and since then we've heard very little about him, good or bad. He was a healthy scratch the entirety of the 2023 season and goes into Year 2 hoping to win a bigger role. Considering he was always perceived as a developmental draft pick, he'll be one of the top players to watch at the position as he fights for a significant role.
- Caelen Carson: As for this year's fourth-round rookie, he'll get a chance to show off his versatility after playing inside and outside at Wake Forest, something he takes pride in. Carson has already turned some heads in practice during the spring but it'll be key for him to show off when the pads come on.
- Gareon Conley: This might be more of a wildcard pick but it's not easy to rule out a 29-year-old former first-round draft pick with 26 career starts under his belt on a team that lacks experience. Conley hasn't played in the NFL since a season-ending injury in 2019 but recently stood out in the UFL, leading to another chance in the NFL.
Going into camp, cornerback is one of the top positions to watch as the Cowboys seek their top backup. If no one pans out and Diggs' rehab takes longer than expected, it wouldn't be a surprise if they dial up Stephon Gilmore's phone number.
