Even amidst the chaos and backlash of trading Micah Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys have entered Thursday night's clash against the Philadelphia Eagles riding a wave of good news.
Both Trevon Diggs and Tyler Guyton were removed from the injury report after participating in Wednesday's walkthrough practice and will play. Diggs beat his expected recovery timeline by months, while Guyton bounced back from a bone fracture suffered at the start of training camp. It is remarkable that both players made it back for the start of the season.
Diggs' return means the Cowboys can unleash their best possible starting cornerback trio. Per Patrick Walker of dallascowboys.com, that figures to be Diggs and Kaiir Elam on the outside with DaRon Bland in the nickel. Let the fist-bumping commence.
Trevon Diggs' return changes everything for the Cowboys in Week 1 vs. the Eagles
With Diggs expected to miss potentially the first month of the season, there was a lot of unrest in Dallas about who will start at cornerback in Week 1. Caelen Carson and Shavon Revel going on injured reserve to start the year turned the headache into a migraine.
If Bland was to kick inside to the nickel, that would leave Elam as the top perimeter CB with someone like Trikweze Bridges, just signed after roster cuts, or Robert Rochell from the practice squad potentially starting on the other side.
If Bland stayed out wide, that would promote Reddy Steward or Zion Childress to the starting nickel role. Remember, the Cowboys cut Israel Mukuamu, Andrew Booth and Kemon Hall, all mainstays in camp and the preseason.
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Diggs' return allows Matt Eberflus to play his top healthy cornerbacks. That doesn't mean Diggs will play a full complement of snaps. It stands to reason that Bland will jump back outside with Steward likely replacing him in the slot when Diggs isn't on the field.
Regardless, Elam has been the team's best cornerback all summer. And Cowboys fans know what Bland and Diggs are capable of when healthy.
That isn't to say they will neutralize A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but having that trio play the vast majority of CB snaps gives Dallas a puncher's chance of pulling off the upset if the offense plays like we all expect it to.
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