FRISCO — Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs laughed before he answered a question about whether he would still be fined $500,000 for working out away from the team facility this offseason as he rehabbed his surgically repaired left knee.
“I don’t know,” he said after his chuckle had subsided. “It is what it is at this point. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it don’t. I just have to make sure I go out there and put on my best performance.”
That fine, Diggs understands, is contractual.
“Rules are rules and contracts are contracts,” Diggs said, “and I have to live with whatever decision that is.”
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And though he might not get that $500,000 back, he might get a return back to the field on his own timeline.
The Cowboys activated Diggs from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday. He was back on the field Monday during the team’s last non-padded practice before a three-day break.
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Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated on Saturday that Diggs would be included in the team’s initial 53-man roster, which has to be decided by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
“I think Trevon has been doing a great job,” Schottenheimer said Saturday. “I’m hoping to get a chance to see him as early as this week to see him do some stuff.”
Schottenheimer paused before finishing his thought: “I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about how hard Trevon has been working. Really doing an incredible job with [Cowboys director of rehabilitation Britt Brown]. These things don’t happen if he’s not putting in the time and the effort to do the stuff that he’s been doing.”
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Diggs’ approach to his rehabilitation from January surgery has put him in line to play soon. When asked about the possibility of playing in Week 1 against the Eagles on Sept. 4, Diggs said he has to see how practice goes. He not only has to run around, but he has to see how well he can run around, and how long his conditioning will allow him to run.
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Diggs’ approach also wasn’t without controversy from a Cowboys’ perspective.
Diggs spent much of the offseason training with Dr. Sharif Tabbah, the co-owner of Alkәmē Sports RX. “Dr. Reef,” as he’s referred to, works with multiple NFL clients during their rehabilitation, including Saints running back Alvin Kamara, Las Vegas quarterback Geno Smith, and Diggs’ brother, Stefon. The brothers had the chance to rehab together this offseason. Stefon tore his ACL on Oct. 27. He was back at practice nine months later.
Tabbah, according to the company’s website, “has a unique approach to fitness, rehab and injury prevention with an emphasis on balance and dynamic core stability.”
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Diggs also felt like the rehabilitation efforts with Tabbah were more curated to him. He previously said this offseason that he would have “undivided attention” toward his rehabilitation away from the Cowboys’ facility.
“It was more specific and the rehab of it all and just the strength and condition of it,” Diggs said on Monday. “And I just saw him bring my brother back fast. I see [Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb] goes down there as well. It’s all great reviews, so I decided to go out there and see. It worked out.”
Doing rehabilitation away from the team, at least to the extent Diggs did, also didn’t work for Cowboys management. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said during the opening news conference of training camp in Oxnard, Calif., that he expected Diggs to be at the facility leading his fellow teammates — adding that it came with the territory of a bigger contract. Jones even questioned, rhetorically, if maybe they should’ve waited to sign Diggs to the five-year, $97 million extension he signed two years ago.
Soon after, Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) that Diggs would’ve been further along in his rehabilitation if he had worked out more with the Cowboys.
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“He certainly paid a price for not being here,” Jones said, referring to the $500,000 fine, “but we’re paying a price, too, because we felt like he might be further along had he done his rehab here. He may differ with that.”
Diggs, a two-time Pro Bowler, said Monday that he’s always had a timetable of playing between Week 1 and Week 3. He said he’ll practice Friday with the team and see how it goes.
Diggs also went out of his way to point out that he has no issues with the Cowboys’ training staff. He specifically pointed out Brown.
“That’s my guy,” Diggs said. “We go back and forth and we have our differences, but he just wants the best for me. He just wants me to be out there.
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“It was never nothing against the Dallas Cowboys and their program. I just felt like I needed to take advantage and initiative for my career.”
And now that he’s on track to return soon, does he also have validation for his decision to work out away from the team? Diggs said he doesn’t let the thoughts of others get to him.
“I think it was more so just proving myself that I could get out there,” he said.
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