Trevon Diggs spent much more time speaking with reporters on Wednesday than he usually does, if he even holds a weekly session at all.
The reason was clear. Diggs was addressing questions for the first time since he had a confrontation with a television reporter while still dressed in his game uniform just minutes after a 30-24 loss to San Francisco last weekend.
Diggs apologized to the reporter, who later expressed regret for any misunderstanding from a post on X, formerly Twitter, that questioned Diggs’ involvement in a 43-yard completion to tight end George Kittle that led to a 49ers touchdown.
The exchange between Diggs and the reporter, which happened just outside the locker room before it opened to the media, was captured on video. Diggs did not speak to reporters inside the locker room.
“I shouldn’t have reacted the way I reacted. I apologize for that,” Diggs said while looking at the reporter as he answered a question from another media member. “Most of it caught me at the right time.”
This incident raised many questions about Diggs’ focus with the Cowboys (3-4), who are on their second two-game losing streak of the season as they prepare to face NFC South-leading Atlanta (5-3) on Sunday.
The 2021 All-Pro defended himself against the view that he was checking his phone too soon after a game.
“It’s 2024. Social media, this is it,” Diggs said. “It’s just a part of our life now. I don’t see anything wrong with me going online after the game or anyone else doing it, checking what you want to check. Maybe I want to get away from the game and just scroll, you know.”
Diggs was a second-round draft pick in 2020 from Alabama, where now-retired coach Nick Saban used to emphasize avoiding outside distractions he referred to as “rat poison.”
The smile from Diggs when he remembered his college coach’s lessons seemed to show he knew he didn’t pass the test.
“Yeah, it may have been a little rat poison,” said Diggs, who had the first season in 40 years with double-digit interceptions in the NFL, finishing with 11 when he made All-Pro three years ago. “Fell for the bait a little bit.”
On the play in question, the Cowboys were using man-to-man coverage, and Kittle got away from safety Donovan Wilson for a big gain.
Diggs was running with his own player when he glanced and saw Kittle. He kept pursuing and was credited with a tackle after forcing Kittle out of bounds at the Dallas 4-yard line. Diggs said this is why he was upset about the post.
“I was the last line of defense and I felt like I prevented him from scoring,” Diggs said. “I took the highest angle. I didn’t think that my effort was a problem.”
Diggs missed practice on Wednesday due to a calf injury and is about a year past surgery for a torn knee ligament that kept him out for almost all of last season.
Part of why his play was questioned is that it happened in a game where Diggs said he “felt like himself.” He seemed to suggest this was the first time since his injury, which happened during practice.
“I’m not going to say it’s been hard. It’s just been some getting used to,” Diggs said. “Felt like it’s been a year since I had my surgery and it was like my year mark and I felt good. Banging and tackling and running and cutting.”
Coach Mike McCarthy said he didn’t see Diggs’ outburst as a sign of trouble in the Dallas locker room, and owner/general manager Jerry Jones had no issue with the 26-year-old’s reaction.
“We all realize that we need to, if you will, have a ‘bite your lip’ where you need to,” Jones said on his radio show. “To that end, you want to not overdo it. This is an emotional game. It doesn’t alarm me in any way to see the manifestation of emotion.”
Diggs acknowledged the frustration that led to the confrontation.
“It is tough. We’re losing. It doesn’t feel good. I hate losing,” Diggs said. “You want to win so bad and you do everything you can to win and you don’t get the win. It’s easy to get frustrated.”
