Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs said he shed “tears of joy” when he walked on the field before Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

Diggs hadn’t played in a game since Sept. 17, 2023. Four days later, the former Alabama defensive back tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at practice, and he missed the remaining 15 regular-season games and one playoff contest for the Cowboys last season.

“Just thankful to be back,” Diggs said after Dallas opened the 2024 NFL season with a 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns. “I’ve been gone for so long. You take your love away, and you just — I don’t know. I had a lot of emotions, though. I’m just thankful to be back.”

Diggs began training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He returned to practice on Aug. 1 and did not play in any of Dallas’ preseason games. On Sunday, Diggs played 72 of the Cowboys’ 76 defensive snaps against Cleveland. None of his teammates played more.

“It means a lot, just being able to be out there again with my teammates,” Diggs said. “I missed them so much. Words can’t explain it. I really love this game. I really love my brothers and stuff, and just being away from them was the hardest part, so me being out there brought me a lot of joy. Being able to make plays and be with them just made me feel good.”

In his final game last season, Diggs intercepted a pass in Dallas’ 30-10 victory over the New York Jets. In Sunday’s victory, Diggs intercepted another pass. He also had five tackles and a pass breakup.

Diggs became the 16th player in the NFL’s AFC/NFC era with 19 interceptions in his first 48 regular-season games. Diggs moved into a tie for ninth with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for NFL interceptions among Alabama alumni.

Diggs’ first game back also was the Cowboys’ first game with Mike Zimmer as their defensive coordinator. Dallas sacked Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson six times, and he needed 45 passes to reach 169 yards. Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks also had an interception on Sunday.

“We’ve been working all camp, just everybody buying into what Coach Zim wants,” Diggs said. “Everyone buying into their responsibility and just taking it one day at a time. And I feel like all the hard work that we put in, we’re going to be able to put it to show on Sundays, so we’re doing a good job. We just got to keep it up, stay grounded, stay focused and keep it going.”

Diggs joined the Cowboys from Alabama in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

In 2021, Diggs earned first-team All-Pro recognition as he intercepted 11 passes, the most in one season in the NFL in 40 years.

After Diggs reached the Pro Bowl again in 2022 and with the cornerback entering the final season of his rookie contract in 2023, the Cowboys signed him in July 2023 to a five-year, $97 million contract extension.

The Cowboys return to the field on Sunday for their home-opener. Dallas and the New Orleans Saints will square off at noon CDT at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.