Let the trash talking begin.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will likely see a lot of matchups against Dallas Cowboys All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs, not that the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year is concerned.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday’s Bengals-Cowboys game, Chase threw some shade at Diggs, stating that he’s “not too much on technique sound”, and that the Alabama product is “a little hit or miss.”
Diggs led the NFL in picks last year with 11, en route to Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro nods. Despite the accolades, Diggs is often viewed as one of the NFL’s worst cornerbacks in one-on-one coverage.
According to Pro Football Focus, Diggs allowed more than 1,000 receiving yards in coverage last season. According to their numbers, Diggs was the first player to allow that many receiving yards since Vernon Hargreaves III in 2016.
Diggs went up against plenty of the NFL’s top wide receivers last season, including Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers), Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers) and Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders).
But Chase could easily be Diggs’ greatest one-on-one matchup yet. Needless to say, the short-handed Cowboys will need Diggs to be at his best if they’re to pull off the upset.
The LSU product was one of the league’s most dominant players in Week 1, racking up 10 receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown in the team’s heartbreaking overtime loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
Diggs had two pass defenses and three combined tackles in Dallas’ Week 1 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Though his overall performance wasn’t exactly terrible, Diggs did allow the lone touchdown of the night to Evans while in coverage.
The Cowboys will be without star quarterback Dak Prescott, who’ll miss multiple games after undergoing hand surgery earlier this week. With Prescott sidelined, Dallas will start 28-year-old Cooper Rush behind center.
