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Todd Archer
PHILADELPHIA — After trending in the right direction during the week of practice, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs and left tackle Tyler Guyton carry no injury designation into Thursday’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and will be available to play.
The question will be how much. On Friday, coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged it is easier to mix-and-match how much Diggs play compared to Guyton because of their positions.
During training camp in Oxnard, California, there was a question when either would be able to play this season.
Diggs opened camp on the physically unable to perform list as he rehabbed a complicated surgery on his left knee in January. He elected to do his rehab in south Florida, which led to his base salary to be reduced by $500,000 because of a de-escalator clause in his contract that required him to participate inn 84% of the Cowboys’ offseason program.
He was activated off PUP on Aug. 24 and has been able to get two weeks of practice in and took snaps with the first-team defense as well as the scout team to increase his conditioning. He said on Monday he believed he had a 75%-80% chance of playing after feeling good.
It is possible Diggs will work as the Cowboys’ third cornerback Thursday and play in passing situations with DaRon Bland moving into the slot. The Cowboys will monitor his snaps, which could lead to Reddy Steward seeing some work in the slot as well.
On July 28, the Cowboys initially feared Guyton suffered a torn ACL in practice but after further testing he was diagnosed with a broken bone in his knee. In the last 10 days, he has gone from doing rehab to practicing with the first team.
Coaches praised Guyton’s off-field work in staying up to date with the offense and the line’s responsibilities. Guyton, a first-round pick in 2024, started 11 of the 15 games he played last year.
If things change between kickoff, the Cowboys would likely start Nate Thomas at left tackle with Hakeem Adeniji as the swing tackle.