Stefon Diggs’ situation in New England seems to be on shaky ground. Following a somewhat tense moment between Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and the star receiver concerning weekly availability, Phil Perry from NBC Sports Boston shed some light on the unfolding situation.
“There are not many signs he’s really hurting,” Perry noted while discussing the heated exchange at a press conference about Diggs. “What Mike Vrabel might want from Diggs is unclear to me. Does he want Diggs to clarify his comments to the media? I can’t really say if that would annoy Vrabel or if he enjoys engaging with the press.”
Diggs joined the Patriots with a hefty three-year, $63.5 million contract after recovering from a torn ACL suffered while playing for the Texans last October.
This week, the four-time Pro Bowler stated he feels “great” and is eyeing a return by Week 1. He appeared on the “Scoop City” podcast, leading fans and the media to speculate whether he will be ready when the Patriots face the Raiders on September 7th.
Perry also expressed doubts about whether Diggs is still living up to expectations. “There’s a lot going on with him, and he doesn’t seem like the top receiver he once was,” he remarked.
When asked on NBC Sports Boston about the potential challenges Diggs might present, Perry hesitated. “How serious are these challenges? If it turns into a big problem, I’d lean towards saying no, he’s not the number one receiver anymore,” he said cautiously. “If he’s dealing with a headache, it feels like it’s ultimately not worth the hassle. He’s not on track to hit a thousand yards this year.”
At the Thursday press conference, Vrabel avoided directly addressing Diggs’ remarks, but the seasoned receiver mentioned he’s “here almost every day.”
“I look forward to seeing him as the season approaches,” Vrabel noted. “He’s practicing today, and hopefully, he can contribute when we get into the red zone. However, predicting outcomes for Week 1 is a bit of a guessing game. What I do know is he works hard and is crucial to our plans.”
