FRISCO, Texas — Trevon Diggs, the typically reserved cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, engaged more with the media on Wednesday than he usually does, which can often be infrequent. This uptick in interaction came after Diggs found himself in a confrontation with a television reporter right after the Cowboys’ narrow 30-24 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers over the weekend.
During this media session, Diggs offered an apology to the reporter, who subsequently expressed regret for any misunderstandings stemming from a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post had implied a critique of Diggs’ involvement in a pivotal 43-yard completion to tight end George Kittle, a play that contributed to a touchdown for the 49ers.
The heated exchange between the cornerback and the reporter took place just outside the locker room prior to its opening to the media, and it was captured on video. Notably, Diggs refrained from addressing reporters inside the locker room after the game. He reflected on his reaction, stating, “I shouldn’t have reacted the way I reacted. I apologize for that,” as he looked back at the reporter while responding to questions from another journalist. “Most of it caught me at the right time.”
This incident has sparked discussions concerning Diggs’ focus, particularly as the Cowboys (3-4) head toward their third losing streak of the season, with a critical matchup against the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons (5-3) approaching on Sunday.
The All-Pro cornerback defended his social media habits after games, asserting that in the current digital age, checking one’s phone is simply part of life. “It’s 2024. Social media, this is it,” Diggs remarked. “I don’t see anything wrong with going online after a game or checking what you want to check. Maybe I want to get away from the game and just scroll, you know.”
Diggs, who was drafted in the second round in 2020 from Alabama—a school known for its legendary coach Nick Saban and his advice against indulging in “rat poison” from outside distractions—seemed aware of a contradiction in his actions. “Yeah, it may have been a little rat poison,” he admitted, referencing his earlier success where he recorded the first double-digit interception season in 40 years with 11 picks. “Fell for the bait a little bit.”
Addressing the specific play that led to the scrutiny, Diggs explained that the Cowboys were set in a man-to-man defense when Kittle managed to get free from safety Donovan Wilson. While covering his assigned receiver, Diggs caught a glimpse of Kittle’s movement and continued to chase, ultimately forcing Kittle out of bounds just shy of scoring. “I was the last line of defense, and I felt like I prevented him from scoring,” Diggs noted, emphasizing that he believed his effort should not be called into question.
Diggs was absent from practice due to a calf injury, which comes nearly a year after he underwent surgery for a torn knee ligament that limited his performance to just two games last season. He indicated that the game against the 49ers marked a return to form for him, suggesting it was one of the best performances he had delivered since his injury during practice.
“It’s just been some getting used to,” he remarked, expressing satisfaction with his physical capabilities as he headed into a critical part of the season. Coach Mike McCarthy dismissed the notion that Diggs’ emotional outburst signaled any deeper issues within the Cowboys’ locker room dynamics. Similarly, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones supported Diggs, stating that emotional reactions are part of the game, and he found no alarm in Diggs’ display of frustration.
Diggs ultimately conveyed his heightened emotions due to the Cowboys’ struggles. “It is tough. We’re losing. It doesn’t feel good. I hate losing,” he said candidly. “You want to win so bad, and you do everything you can to win, and when you don’t, it’s easy to get frustrated.”