The former All-Pro cornerback was on IR for an "at-home-accident-" concussion and knee issues. His 21-day practice window has now begun.
The Dallas Cowboys have enjoyed this three-game winning streak since the bye week off of the backs of resurgent defense that fosters as enough to potentially claw Dallas back to within reach of the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East lead.
This stretch has taken shape with former All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs inactive, but that doesn't appear to be the case for much longer.
Diggs was placed on injured reserve after a mysterious at-home incident that resulted in a concussion. He has also dealt with knee troubles throughout this season, dating back to his back-to-back surgeries over the last two seasons.
The Cowboys have now opened Diggs' 21-day practice window as the Week 14 bout with the Wild Card-hungry Detroit Lions approaching on Thursday Dec. 4. Diggs on Sunday about his recent rehab program at The Star.
"I feel way better now, because you don't know how you're going to feel when you get out there, you know?" Diggs said. "I went out there, I was feeling good the first couple of weeks, and then it started to weigh on me a little bit. I started getting some swelling in my knee. Now, I don't have any swelling in my knee, I feel good, I feel like I'm running good, I feel like my hamstring's strong, everything is good and strong. I feel ready."
Diggs has not played since Dallas' Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 12, a game in which the Cowboys fell 30-27 to drop to 2-3-1 on the season. Since then, one of the NFL's worst defenses has been greatly enhanced with two trade deadline acquisitions and the return of players who started the season on IR. Dallas is 4-2 since the loss at Carolina.
Is Diggs physically ready to return to the field and join this resurgent Cowboys attack?
"Yeah," he said about whether he'll be out there. "If they let me."
The practice window allows a player to return to the active roster at any point within those three weeks, so it is not yet official that Diggs will be suiting up for the Detroit game later this week. There has been a positive report, however, from owner/general manager Jerry Jones about his veteran corner.
"He'll be on the field. Wanted to be on the field last night [Thanksgiving], but he'll be on the field at Detroit in my view barring a [setback]." Jones said on his 105.3 The Fan segment on Friday.
Diggs' reputation within the organization hasn't always appeared to be all sunshine and roses this season. He memorably saw $500 thousand docked from his contract after failing to meet the participation requirements that say the majority of his offseason program should take place in Frisco. He trained in Miami instead.
Then there was his public dissatisfaction with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' zone-heavy scheme, making it known that he'd rather play his more natural man coverage.
Then there was the concussion. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer first announced the injury to begin a press conference, but very little explanation has been shared otherwise, adding to its mysterious nature.
When Diggs was asked about it, his response was frank.
"At-home incident." He did not clarify any further.
"It happens, it's life," said Diggs. "Things happen."
Now with the injuries seemingly behind him, Diggs enters this back-half of the schedule with motivation not just to contribute to Dallas' revamped momentum, but to remind the league of his elite pedigree.
"I'm really excited," Diggs said. "I feel like momentum is going, and I just want to make sure I go out there and continue the momentum, put out great effort, make plays, and just continue to try and help this team win."
"I wouldn't say they forget, but I know what I am," he added about teams' recent perception of him. "I know who I am, I know what I can do on the field. I'm going to put that out there, I'm going to show them. If they forgot, I'm going to make sure I'm going to remind them."