Cowboys Head Coach Reveals Reason Behind Not Starting All-Pro CB

The Dallas Cowboys managed to get a rare tie in Sunday night’s game at the much-favored Green Bay Packers, despite many counting out their chances beforehand.

Granted, ties give out much more of a “both teams lost”, than “both teams won” vibe, but irregardless, the Cowboys should be happy with their performance in the 40-40 stalemate.

One question that arose after the game, however, is why All-Pro cornerback, Trevon Diggs, did not start alongside fellow All-Pro, DaRon Bland – who, like Diggs, has been dealing with an injury in recent weeks – despite both getting numerous reps inside the game.

Head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, addressed this in his Monday morning press availability, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota.

Schottenheimer And Diggs Both Discuss Him Not Starting Week 4 Game

When asked about the reasons behind not starting arguably the most able player in the entire secondary, Schottenheimer pointed to both the former second round pick’s health and some past consistency issues on the field.

“We’re talented. He’s been banged up a little bit.” Schottenheimer said to the media on Monday. “I’ve been a little tough on Trevon, just in terms of the consistency and things like that. But, man, I thought he played really well. I’m proud of him. It’s a similar type thing with other guys. I mean, it wasn’t just us picking on Trevon. Trevon is a hell of a player. Trevon is a huge part of what we’re trying to do.”

And it turns out that this plan to not start Diggs was did pre-discussed and pre-meditated before the game, as ex Alabama standout was caught off guard by not being in the starting lineup.

“Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs when asked if he didn’t start last night because of a health situation and if he was surprised by that”, Machota wrote on X – before quoting Diggs, “Yeah, maybe, a little bit. A little bit. A little bit. A little bit.”

What Is the Future Of Trevon Diggs With The Cowboys?

Owner, Jerry Jones, also weighed in on the situation, claiming that it must have essentially been entirely about Diggs’ health, as they are not looking to set him aside to develop younger players on the back end of the roster.

“Jerry Jones when asked if Diggs’ usage in the game was more about his health or moving on to playing other guys”, Machota’s post continued, as he noted Jones’ words, “There’s no moving on to other guys. So, it had to be reps regarding health or that type thing. … I’m pleased with how Diggs played.”

Diggs is currently the starting perimeter cornerback in Dallas, opposite offseason trade acquisition, Kair Elam, who was bought in from the Buffalo Bills earlier this year.

After two excellent seasons in 2021 and 2022, the Cowboys signed Diggs to a 5 year, $97 extension. However, he has caught the injury bug over the past two subsequent years, managing to make just 13 out of a possible 34 starts over that time frame.

Diggs is owed $18 million in 2026, and can be cut for a dead cap of just $5 million in March, leaving many to speculate that his time in Dallas could be numbered. But for now, he remains on the team, and health-permitting, it would seem he is very much the starter going forward.

Alcaraz out of Shanghai after winning eighth title of season

Carlos Alcaraz won his eighth title of a sensational season on Tuesday in Tokyo and then pulled out of the Shanghai Masters because of "physical issues" and took aim at tennis' packed schedule.

The Spanish world number one hurt his ankle in his opening match at the Japan Open but shrugged off the issue to beat American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final.

But immediately after downing the world number five, the six-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz took aim at the tennis calendar.

"The schedule is really tight. They have to do something with the schedule," the recently crowned US Open champion told reporters in the Japanese capital, echoing the sentiments this week of fellow major champions Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.

Alcaraz subsequently wrote on Instagram that he will not play at the prestigious Shanghai Masters starting this week.

"Unfortunately I've been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover," the 22-year-old wrote.

Alcaraz injured his ankle last week in Tokyo as he ran for a shot, crumpling to the ground and sitting on the court for about five minutes.

He returned to play with heavy strapping on his ankle and has admitted that the injury had been on his mind throughout the tournament.

It did not appear to bother him against Fritz, as he gave another breathtaking display to lift the trophy in his first appearance in Japan.

He clinched victory with a cleverly disguised drop shot before strolling to the net to give Fritz a warm embrace.

The win gave Alcaraz a measure of revenge after losing to Fritz for the first time at the Laver Cup in San Francisco two weeks ago.

- Tennis under scrutiny -

The number of matches in the men's and women's tennis calendar has been a major talking point in recent years, with players such as Novak Djokovic cutting back the tournaments they compete in as they near the end of their careers.

Gauff called Tuesday for shorter seasons and said it was "impossible" to play more than she already does, after Swiatek also hit out at the number of tournaments.

They were speaking at the China Open, where five players retired injured from matches on Monday.

"With more and more events being two weeks it just doesn't really make sense to strain your body," the American Gauff said after emerging unscathed to reach the quarter-finals.

"I would like to see in my lifetime on tour that a solution be made to make the season shorter," the 21-year-old world number three added.

Gauff, the defending China Open champion and two-time major winner, weighed in after top seed Swiatek said on Monday she may skip mandatory tournaments to protect her health.

Starting last year, the Women's Tennis Association made it mandatory for top players to participate in each Grand Slam, 10 WTA 1000 events -- which includes Beijing -- and six 500-level tournaments.

"I guess on a business standpoint, it can kind of make sense, but on a player health standpoint, I don't really agree with it," Gauff said.

"I've basically played as much tennis as I possibly can."

Poland's world number two Swiatek called the WTA's mandatory requirements "pretty crazy".

In Tokyo, Alcaraz said he too would look at skipping mandatory tournaments on the men's ATP Tour.

"We as tennis players, we are not allowed to have a choice if we have to play or not," he said following his convincing two-set win over Fritz.

"To be honest, I have to consider in the future if I have to skip some mandatory tournaments just to maintain my physical condition in a good shape."

Daniil Medvedev retired injured from his China Open semi-final on Tuesday.

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