Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy reacts to Trevon Diggs' ACL tear: 'Obviously a big blow'

The Dallas Cowboys suffered their biggest loss of the season so far on Thursday with starting cornerback Trevon Diggs going down with an ACL tear ahead of the Week 3 matchup against Arizona. On his Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy shared his first comments on Diggs’ injury.

“It’s just awful,” McCarthy said, via Jon Machota. “He was just playing off the charts. That’s the way he practices, too. Obviously a big blow. Your heart goes out to Trevon. … This is our first big shot of adversity. This is a real punch to the gut.”

Diggs went down during one-on-one drills and after reporters saw him exit the facility on crutches, the team confirmed with an MRI that he tore the ACL of his left knee.

While many Cowboys fans would have liked to see all the starters put in bubble wrap after the 2-0 start Dallas has had, McCarthy explained the reality of the situation.

“There’s skill development that always goes on, especially with the limited time in training camp,” McCarthy said. “One-on-one drills are something that defensive backs and the receivers need. Everything you do in the passing game is based on time clock, so those reps are necessary. Not doing red zone 1-on-1, I don’t see that drill as a drill of high risk. It’s just one of those unfortunate things that happen when two guys are competing for the ball. That can happen in any drill.”

McCarthy updates Tyler Biadasz’s status for Sunday

Trevon Diggs’ injury was the biggest headline for the Cowboys on Thursday but starter center Tyler Biadasz is also dealing with a new injury. The fourth-year lineman also underwent an MRI on Thursday, but unlike with Diggs, the Cowboys aren’t as concerned.

“Talking with the medical staff last night, they think he’ll be ready to go,” McCarthy said on 105.3 The Fan. “But when you have these types of things show up late like they do, the next morning is obviously an important evaluation. But they were not of high concern last night.”

Due to lingering hamstring issues with starting left guard Tyler Smith, Dallas hasn’t had the opportunity to start their first five yet this season. If Biadasz can go on Sunday against the Cardinals, that will mark the first game with the best five linemen on the field. Even with backups playing in the first two games, Dak Prescott has remained relatively clean with just one sack taken.