In training camp, the front office was open about what it wanted from Diggs. After Diggs didn’t show up for at least 84 percent of offseason activities and was docked half-a-million dollars from his 2025 salary as a result, owner and general manager Jerry Jones challenged him by saying he wants to see him leading more.
A little more than three months later, a lot of the same rhetoric is being regurgitated about Diggs’ antics behind the scenes and what the team wants from him moving forward. Since having his 21-day practice window opened on Nov. 30, he has not yet crossed the thresholds needed to make his return off injured reserve.
And based off head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s comments on Wednesday, it seems as though there are some things left to be done.
“When you miss time, there’s a ramp-up period for not just your body, but your mind — figuring out the defense, and there are some new faces in the huddle,” Schottenheimer said. “I love him as a player, but ultimately he’s got to show us that he’s ready to do everything the right way.”
Even after a game that saw the Cowboys’ defense give up 44 points and 299 passing yards to the Detroit Lions, the need for Diggs is still not at a point where they would put him on the field and sacrifice the standard set by Schottenheimer throughout the season of competing every day and doing the little things right.
While the runway is being laid for him to return this season, it sounds like it will ultimately be up to his decision-making if he actually does see the field in the team’s final four regular-season contests.
“He’s still in the ramp-up period,” Schottenheimer said. “He does feel healthy, I know he wants to play. But at the end of the day, we have to do what we think is in the best interest of not just him, but also the football team.”
Time is running out for Diggs. Ahead of an offseason where seeing the Cowboys move on from him is almost a foregone conclusion, these final four weeks could be critical in determining how soft or hard his next landing spot will be.
If he puts out good tape, there will be teams wanting his services at a premium price. If he doesn’t touch the field, then he will only carry the controversy he has built for himself in Dallas to whatever team takes him next.
The challenges set in front of him by the franchise have clearly not been met, but can he find one last spark to revitalize his career before his ending is written by the cloud of chaos he has stormed together? Returning to the field before the closure of his 21-day window on Dec. 21 will determine that outcome.
As of now, consider it in doubt.
Game schedule dates, times, locations
NEXT UP: Game dates, times, locations, channel
Rangers ▶
June 12 Boston 10, Rangers 1
June 13 Boston 6, Rangers 3
June 14 Rangers 6, Boston 4
June 15 Minnesota 4, Rangers 2
June 16 Minnesota 12, Rangers 2
June 18 vs. Minnesota, 1:35 p.m., RSN
June 19 vs. San Diego, 7:05 p.m., RSN
June 20 vs. San Diego, 3:05 p.m., RSN
June 21 vs. San Diego, 1:35 p.m., RSN
June 22 at Miami, 5:40 p.m., RSN
June 23 at Miami, 5:40 p.m., RSN
June 24 at Miami, 11:10 a.m., RSN
June 25 at Toronto, 6:07 p.m., RSN
June 26 at Toronto, 6:07 p.m., CW
June 27 at Toronto, 2:07 p.m., RSN
June 28 at Toronto, 12:37 p.m., RSN
June 29 at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m., ESPN
June 30 at Cleveland, 5:40 p.m., RSN
July 1 at Cleveland, 12:10 p.m., RSN
Wings▶
June 9 Minnesota 100, Wings 76
June 11 Wings 85, Phoenix 70
June 13 Portland 84, Wings 83
June 15 Wings 96, Las Vegas 66
June 17 Golden State 91, Wings 80
June 20 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m., CBS, Paramount+
June 22 at Seattle, 9 p.m., KFAA
June 25 at Las Vegas, 9 p.m., KFAA
June 28 vs. Minnesota, 1 p.m., CBS, Paramount+
July 2 at Connecticut, 7 p.m., KFAA, Amazon Prime Video
TCU Football ▶
2026 season
Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina (at Dublin), 11 a.m., ESPN
Sept. 12 vs. Grambling State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Sept. 19 vs. Arkansas State, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Sept. 26 at Central Florida, TBA
Oct. 3 vs. BYU, TBA
Oct. 17 at Baylor, TBA
Oct. 24 vs. West Virginia, TBA
Oct. 31 vs. Kansas, TBA
Nov. 6 at Arizona, 9:15 p.m., ESPN
Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA
Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA
Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN
Cowboys ▶
Sept. 13 at N.Y. Giants, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Sept. 20 vs. Washington, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Sept. 27 vs. Baltimore (at Rio de Janeiro), 3:25 p.m., CBS
Oct. 4 at Houston, 12 p.m., Fox
Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
Oct. 18 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC
Nov. 1 vs. Arizona, 12 p.m., Fox
Nov. 8 at Indianapolis, 12 p.m., Fox
Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee, 12 p.m., Fox
Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., Fox
Dec. 7 at Seattle, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC
Dec. 20 at L.A. Rams, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Dec. 27 vs. Jacksonville, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Jan. 3 vs. N.Y. Giants, 12 p.m., Fox
Jan. 9 or 10 at Washington, TBA
World Cup ▶
All local matches at AT&T Stadium
Group stage
June 14 Japan 2, Netherlands 2 (Group F)
June 17 England 4, Croatia 2 (Group L)
June 22 Argentina vs. Austria (Group J), 12 p.m., Fox
June 25 Japan vs. Sweden (Group F), 6 p.m., FS1
June 27 Argentina vs. Jordan (Group J), 9 p.m., Fox
Knockout round
June 30 Round of 32: Group E runner-up vs. Group I runner-up, 12 p.m., Fox
July 3 Round of 32: Group D runner-up vs. Group G runner-up, 1 p.m., Fox
July 6 Round of 16: Teams TBD, 2 p.m., Fox
July 14 Semifinal: Teams TBD, 2 p.m., Fox
FC Dallas ▶
May 2 FC Dallas 2, NY Red Bulls 0
May 9 FC Dallas 3, Salt Lake 1
May 13 Vancouver 3, FC Dallas 2
May 16 FC Dallas 3, San Jose 2
May 23 FC Dallas 2, Colorado 1
World Cup break
July 22 at Portland, 9:30 p.m., Apple TV
July 25 at San Diego, 8:30 p.m., FS1, Apple TV
Texas Motor Speedway ▶
June 20 Team Texas - David Starr's Racing School
June 20 Drift n Drag
July 11 NASCAR Racing Experience
July 11 Hearts in High Gear
July 25 Drift n Drag
This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM.
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.
