Sports

Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs has had a rough go of it this year.

He spent all of the offseason and training camp rehabbing from a serious knee injury. He saw his best friend, defensive end Micah Parsons, traded to the Packers on Aug. 28. He was benched in Sunday's game against the Packers.

And Parsons is being asked to play more zone coverage than he is comfortable playing.

He did not start against the Packers as discipline for on-field and off-field issues, according to Clarence Hill of All City DLLS. Parsons played 53 of 83 snaps.

He will return to the starting lineup this week against the Jets.

“Rough week," Diggs said Wednesday, via Hill. "I guess coach is holding me accountable. It’s cool. Back on track this week, ready to work.”

Diggs, a two-time Pro Bowler, led the league with 11 interceptions in 2021.

But he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a Week 3 practice in 2023. In 2024, it was an injury to the same knee that ended his season after 11 games.

Diggs underwent chondral bone graft surgery Jan. 23, which entails transplanting pieces of bone tissue into the joint to stimulate growth.

Because he didn't spend enough time rehabbing at the team facility — his contract stipulated he be at the team facility 84.375 percent of the offseason program — he lost $500,000 from his base pay for this season.

Diggs, who rehabbed in South Florida, did make it back for the season opener. But nothing so far has been what he, new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus or the Cowboys expected as the Dallas defense ranks last in yards, last in passing yards, last in third-down defense and next-to-last in points.

The team's cornerbacks have no interceptions and one pass deflection.

“It’s surprising,” Diggs said. “It’s not like we don’t have talent. We got to be in position. And I feel like once again positioned to do it, . . . but it’s just all about being in position to make the plays.”

Diggs is comfortable playing man-to-man, and Eberflus has the Cowboys playing zone the majority of the team. Diggs has asked Eberflus for more man coverage.

“I have to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” Diggs said. “It’s not about what I want.”

On Wednesday, Browns third-string quarterback Shedeur Sanders made the unusual (and possibly unprecedented) decision to conduct a press conference via mime.

There was a reason for his decision.

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweeted this on Wednesday: "Shedeur Sanders pantomiming today was in response to ESPN analyst Rex Ryan criticizing the rookie QB earlier this week." Schefter attributes the assertion to no source(s), named or unnamed.

"Something's missing with this kid," Ryan said Monday morning. "This kid talks, he runs his mouth like he's a — 'I could be a starting quarterback' with his arms crossed like this. Get your ass in the front row and study and do all that. If I know the whole league knows. Quit being an embarrassment that way. You've got the talent to be the quarterback. You should be embarrassed that you're not the quarterback now."

Frankly, Sanders shouldn't care about anything Ryan (or anyone else on the outside) says. Most people who see Sanders's media interaction from Wednesay won't know why Sanders did what he did. They'll see it, and they'll regard it as a creative effort to manufacture a headline on the day that saw teammate Dillon Gabriel elevate to the position of starting quarterback.

Colts cornerback Xavien Howard was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice for personal reasons. That reason was later revealed.

Howard has decided to retire.

The Colts announced they placed Howard on the reserve/retired list.

They signed safety Trey Washington to the 53-player roster from the practice squad in a corresponding move.

In the loss to the Rams, Howard allowed seven completions in 10 attempts when he was the closest defender and those completions went for 112 yards and a touchdown, per Next Gen Stats.

Howard had said "not to my ability" after Sunday's game.

For the season, Howard has allowed 14 completions in 20 attempts for 183 yards and two touchdowns, along with four penalties.

He did not play in 2024 but came back Aug. 18 by signing with the Colts.

Howard, 32, spent his first eight seasons with the Dolphins. In his career, he has 29 interceptions, 95 passes defensed, 342 tackles and two sacks.