FOXBORO — An ACL tear ended Stefon Diggs’ only season in Houston after just eight games last year.

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Diggs was on pace for another 1,000-yard campaign, but instead went on injured reserve and hit free agency where he was met with tepid interest. But considering where that injury has led him since, into the playoffs with the Patriots and facing his old team Sunday, Diggs is happy with how things turned out.

“Unfortunately for me, I got hurt. But fortunate enough, I’m here,” Diggs said Wednesday. “So growing pains, you learn from a lot of things that you can go through. So I trust where I am right now, where God’s placed me, and I’m happy to be here. I learned a lot from it, though. (I) had a good time.”

Diggs finished last year with 47 catches for 497 yards and three touchdowns. He connected instantly with Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, one of the few ex-teammates with whom Diggs said he’s still in touch. Diggs said there’s been no contact this week, though, before the Patriots host the Texans as slight home favorites in the divisional round Sunday.

“It was cool. I mean, I had a great time,” Diggs said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys over there, everybody included: GM, the coaches. I’ve got a lot of respect for them.”

In Houston, Diggs worked closely with Texans wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Ben McDaniels, the younger brother of Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Diggs said he appreciated their relationship and said he has a lot of respect Ben McDaniels.

“I spent a lot of time with him, you know, learned a lot,” he said. “I had a good time there.”

Earlier this year, Diggs described Josh as “a little bit of a genius.” The elder McDaniels responded by saying that was untrue, but added Diggs was kind for calling him that.

“He’s been a tremendous professional,” McDaniels said of Diggs. “Great influence on everybody. Comes ready to go. Wants to win. Very competitive. Smart player. He’s tough. Has great savvy. Football makes sense to him. I think he’s been a really good guy for our young players to watch work, watch during the course of the day, how he prepares.

“And then certainly, obviously, his influence on our team. On the practice field. During the course of the game. There’s an energy and an intensity about him that never stops. I appreciate that as a coach because it’s a long season. There’s a lot of ups and downs and a lot things you go through, and there’s some lulls in the action on game day, and it never seems to affect him. So, very consistent with his approach, his demeanor, and his performance. As a coach, I don’t know what else you could ask for from him.”