Patriots’ Stefon Diggs, feeling grateful one year post-surgery, reveals another injury
FOXBORO — Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is in the midst of an impressive run, and he divulged Wednesday that he’s actually been fighting through an injury.
“I broke my finger, like, a couple weeks ago,” Diggs said casually. “So, I was just telling (Drake Maye), ‘Hey, I love the way you throw the ball.’ I really appreciate it. Just because he has that touch.”
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Diggs caught touchdown passes in consecutive games in Weeks 8 through 10, then posted his third 100-yard performance of the season in Thursday night’s win over the Jets.
He downplayed the injury when asked a follow-up about the fractured finger.
“Something like that,” Diggs said smiling. “Don’t worry about it. Least of my worries.”
Diggs has been listed on the Patriots’ injury report with chest and ankle injuries, but there’s been no mention of a finger.
The four-time Pro Bowler seems less affected by injuries than most NFL players anyway. He posted on Instragram this week that he’s one year post-surgery to repair a torn ACL that he suffered Oct. 27, 2024.
“A year removed from surgery,” Diggs wrote in his caption. “I remember all the pain, and I remember feeling so broken. I took that (expletive) on the chin and just kept grinding. My faith never wavered. God I thank you. (Mended heart emoji.) We still going.”
Diggs was limited in OTAs and minicamp but was a full-go for training camp and the beginning of the 2025 season.
He’s currently on pace for his seventh career 1,000-yard season with 59 catches for 659 yards and three touchdowns through 11 games as Maye’s top target in the Patriots’ offense.
“I’m extremely grateful,” Diggs said. “I can’t thank God enough as far as where I’m at right now, more so where I’m at with my team. I’m thankful to be where I’m at right now around a good group of guys. We spend a lot of time together. And I say it’s like your little mini family, because you spend more time with them sometimes than you do your own family.
“So, I’m thankful to be where I’m at. I can’t thank God enough. As far as, like, my injury, it’s been a long time coming, but I think more importantly, that I’m just still going. Right now, we’re in the thick of it. Feel like I can’t get caught up in the moment, but I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank God and thank my teammates, thank everybody for pushing me to where I’m at right now. But more importantly, I’m just still grinding.”
The Patriots are set to face off against a Bengals team that will have Tee Higgins as their top receiver, since Ja’Marr Chase was suspended one game for spitting at Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey in Week 11.
Higgins was a popular for the Patriots in free agency this offseason until the Bengals used the franchise tag on him in early March. Higgins has 35 catches for 544 yards with seven touchdowns through 10 games, so Diggs is actually outproducing him so far this season.
Diggs signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract with the Patriots two weeks into free agency. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport recently reported that Diggs nearly signed with the Broncos before deciding to join head coach Mike Vrabel and the Patriots.
The wide receiver said Wednesday that it was a “conglomerate” that brought him to New England.
“Young quarterback who showed some promise, showed some skill set, can throw the ball, is mobile being young,” Diggs said. “But then also (offensive coordinator Josh) McDaniels. He’s been around the game for a long time. Homecoming for him. He’s called a lot of great plays here. And then Vrabel. So it was a group effort with everybody for me personally. I’ve played with a lot of young quarterbacks. So it wasn’t my first time, my first rodeo.”
Diggs also said his history with wide receivers coach Todd Downing helped draw him to the Patriots. Downing spent one year as a tight ends coach with the Vikings while Diggs was in Minnesota.
The signing has worked out for both sides. Diggs is a comeback player of the year candidate, he’s given Maye a dependable veteran target in key situations, and the team is 9-2 and riding an eight-game winning streak.
