The Patriots got a welcome bit of news on Tuesday morning when it was revealed that star wide receiver Stefon Diggs would not only be present and accounted for at training camp, but would be a full participant right from the beginning. Diggs was brought in on a three-year, $69 million contract in the offseason to take over the role of WR1 on this roster, which has sorely lacked a top-shelf receiver in recent years.
At age 31, there are questions about whether Diggs still deserves a “top-shelf” designation. Complicating matters is the torn ACL he suffered in late October of last year, during the Texans’ eighth game. Diggs wrapped up the season there, with 47 catches, 496 yards receiving and a recovery time of nine-12 months ahead.
By being back on the field this week, Diggs is actually back ahead of schedule, just under nine months.
“I know that everybody heals differently, especially from that type of injury,” coach Mike Vrabel said. “But I would say that I think it’s just a testament to how hard he worked. … So, I appreciate their efforts to get back out there and get ready, and then we’ll continue to monitor as we work through training camp.”
Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Addresses Physical
Vrabel was asked repeatedly about Diggs, and with good reason–the team needs a return to form from him to boost an offense that badly needs a reliable veteran target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
First, Vrabel cleared up that Diggs did pass his physical.
“Yeah, you can’t practice if you don’t pass your physical. That’s what these lists are for, I apologize,” he said. “So, that’s some of the housekeeping that you go through when you’re not fully cleared to start camp. That’s where you introduce some of these PUP and the NFI. So, yeah, you can’t practice without passing your physical.”
Stefon Diggs Has ‘No Limitations’
Vrabel was also asked whether Diggs will open training camp on a sort of “pitch count,”
with the team easing him back into a normal player schedule.
“When he practices, when he took the rep, it was full go,” Vrabel said. “Everybody, every day is going to have a different plan. There will be some players that aren’t out there for individual. There will be players that are just out there for team. There will be players that are just taking some specific reps.
“My job is to manage that each and every day, but to ensure the football team that everybody’s working, whether that’s with Frank [Piraino], Jim [Whalen]’s staff or with the coaching staff on the field. So, I don’t see any limitations right now. Is he going to take every single rep of every single period? No, and I don’t think any player will. But I think we’re off to a good start and encouraged by what we saw here in the last couple of days.”
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