FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The efficiency of Stefon Diggs was one of many largest unknowns for the New England Patriots getting into the season.
Diggs established himself as one of many NFL’s greatest huge receivers throughout a run with Minnesota and Buffalo from 2018 to 2023 when he had six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
However after a commerce from the Payments to the Houston Texans following the 2023 season and subsequent season-ending knee damage after a principally lackluster eight video games with the Texans final season, the place the 10-year veteran would land in free company was a thriller.
That place ended up being one of many largest offseason acquisitions for a New England workforce that was in want of a reliable huge receiver for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. It could be a call answerable for each revitalizing Diggs’ profession and serving to return the Patriots (10-2) to AFC relevancy as they put together for a Monday night matchup in opposition to the New York Giants (2-10).
“I’m grateful to be the place I’m at proper now, round an excellent group of men,” Diggs mentioned lately after celebrating being a 12 months faraway from final 12 months’s knee surgical procedure. “However extra importantly, I feel is we’re nonetheless going. We’re proper within the thick of it. I really feel like I can’t get caught up within the second, however I might be remiss if I didn’t thank God and thank my teammates and all people for pushing me the place I’m at proper now. However extra importantly I’m nonetheless grinding.”
After a gradual begin the place he had a career-high seven-game drought with out a landing to open a season, Diggs mentioned he was clinging to his philosophy of “consuming the meals that’s in your plate” with regard to how he was used within the offense.
Over the previous 5 video games, Diggs’ plate has been greater than full.
He has three touchdowns over that stretch, and now leads the workforce with 61 catches and 679 receiving yards. It’s helped New England vault to a 10-2 report.
Diggs credit the way in which first-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and the coaching employees managed his post-surgery rehab, starting with slowly bringing him alongside within the preseason after which methodically growing his targets early within the season. He’s but to overlook a begin.
That will have roots in his earlier familiarity with Patriots huge receiver coach Todd Downing, whom Diggs credit with being a part of the explanation he got here to New England within the first place. Downing was additionally tight ends coach in Minnesota in 2018 when Diggs was there.
“I trusted him,” Diggs mentioned. “I don’t belief many individuals. I believed him. He gave me face worth phrases and I appreciated his honesty. Identical with Coach Vrabes. I recognize straight shooters. You’ll be able to inform me the reality it doesn’t matter what it’s and I’ll rock with you if it’s the reality. However if you happen to attempt to pull the wool over my eyes than it will get slightly dicey.”
That belief is also there with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who has introduced out a extra intense off the sphere work ethic in Diggs.
“That is in all probability like my largest 12 months I’ve studied probably the most, so far as recognizing coverages and with the ability to attempt to see it earlier than the play begins. Sort of like from a quarterback imaginative and prescient,” Diggs mentioned. “After which McDaniels, he’s going to problem you. He challenges me every day to be studious, be tedious, continue learning, don’t get comfy and have aggressive stamina. So I really feel like being a pacesetter that helped me lots. It’s my first 12 months actually diving into the psychological side of it that deep. I’m simply used to only balling for actual.”
That’s filtered right into a willingness for use extra within the slot versus the surface. In his last three seasons in Buffalo he by no means spent greater than 35% of his snaps within the slot. That elevated to 54% final season in Houston and is at 47% this season with the Patriots.
Maye mentioned all he’s seen is a man that’s open.
“He’s received nice fingers. The most effective fingers I’ve seen. He’s easy catching it,” Maye mentioned. “Ya’ll have seen the catches he’s made — again of the tip zone, toe-tap, sideline — it doesn’t matter he’s making the catches. Plenty of belief with me throwing his method. And it’s been enjoyable taking part in with him.”
It has Diggs on observe to have one other 1,000-yard season. Although, he says he’s extra involved with returning to the playoffs at this level.
“Clearly, I’ve battled with lots this 12 months. It could be nice if it occurred. If it doesn’t, then it’s not the tip of the world,” he mentioned. “I’m extra so targeted on attempting to win. And if it occurs, cool.”
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