Cowboys dock Trevon Diggs $500K for offseason rehab decision

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs will take a significant financial hit after failing to meet a specific clause in his contract related to offseason participation. According to reports, Diggs will forfeit $500,000 of his 2025 base salary for not rehabbing enough at the team's facility during the offseason.

The penalty stems from a de-escalator clause in Diggs' five-year, $97 million contract extension signed in 2023. The clause required him to complete at least 84.375% of the Cowboys' offseason program at the team's headquarters in Frisco, Texas. Diggs, however, chose to conduct most of his rehab work in Miami, following knee surgery in January.

The Cowboys had the option to waive the penalty but chose not to. This marks the first known instance of the team enforcing such a clause, despite similar language existing in other large contracts within the organization.

The decision signals a strong stance by Dallas on the importance of in-house recovery and team oversight.

Diggs suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a Week 3 practice in 2023 and later required a chondral bone graft surgery-an advanced procedure that involves transplanting cartilage and bone to repair joint damage. Recovery timelines for such surgeries are lengthy, and there's a chance Diggs may miss most or all of the 2025 season.

Return timeline remains uncertain

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones publicly criticized Diggs earlier this year for choosing to rehab outside of team facilities. Despite the criticism, Diggs has reportedly kept in touch with team doctors and has shown signs of progress in his recovery. While he attended mandatory minicamp, he did not participate in on-field drills.

Team executive Stephen Jones acknowledged that Diggs has been diligent in his rehab efforts, even if not done on-site, but emphasized the team's preference for players to recover under their direct supervision.

Dallas has made clear it values offseason participation not just for physical recovery but for maintaining a team culture of accountability.

Diggs, a two-time Pro Bowler and the NFL's interception leader in 2021, has played just 13 games over the past two seasons due to injuries. His absence in the Cowboys' secondary has been significant, and his full recovery is critical to the team's defensive future.

With training camp approaching, all eyes are on Diggs's health status. While his return date remains unclear, the Cowboys-and their fans-are hoping he can get back to form and help solidify a defense that has struggled with consistency in recent years.