Give Patriots star receiver Stefon Diggs some credit. He was speaking to reporters this week at his locker at Gillette Stadium and casually dropped in a detail that no one had previously known about: He’s been playing with a broken finger.
Diggs did not detail when or how, exactly, the injury happened, but said it’s been an issue for multiple weeks. Considering he caught nine balls for 105 yards in last Thursday’s win over the Jets in Week 11, that’s impressive.
The injury came up when Diggs was talking about coming to the Patriots this season to play alongside quarterback Drake Maye. He was making a point about the touch Maye uses on his throws, but wound up revealing his own unfortunate injury.
Stefon Diggs: ‘I Broke My Finger’
Here’s how Diggs answered the Maye question at Patriots practice:
“I talk to him all the time. I broke my finger like a couple weeks ago, so I was just telling him like, ‘Hey, I love the way you throw the ball. I real appreciate it.’ Just because he has that touch—I got nothing against you putting a little extra mustard to fit in the hole. …
“He has one of those, like a basketball player. As far as, how you shoot it, when people got a good shot, they got a good shot. So, he has the ability to put that touch on the ball and make it easy to catch. So, I appreciate that.”
Diggs was asked if he really broke his finger, and he smiled. “Something like that. Don’t worry about it, least of my worries,” he said.
Patriots Could Get 1st 1,000-Yard WR in 6 Years
The big performance on the national stage last week put Diggs back up at 659 yards receiving through 11 weeks, which also put him back on target for a 1,000-yard receiving season in his first year with the Patriots, who have not had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2019.
He is on pace now for 1,018 yards, remarkable for two reasons.
One, the Patriots have used a pretty equal-opportunity offensive approach this season, with four different receivers registering 100-yard games. Two, Diggs is coming back from a torn ACL that, at age 31, was supposed to put a damper on the remainder of his career. Instead, he could well top 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his career.
He would not consider this to be his most meaningful 1,000-yard season, though.
“I would say my most significant was my first time,” Diggs said. “Obviously, I battled with a lot this year. It would be great if it does happen, but if it doesn’t it’s not the end of the world. It wouldn’t be my first time getting 1,000 yards but I will never forget my first time getting it. If I do hit it this year, great. But I am more focused on trying to win, and if it does happen, cool.”
Patriots’ Drake Maye Jibes Stefon Diggs on Injury
As for the finger and his resurrection with the Patriots, Maye himself offered a bit of an eye-roll over Diggs’ injury. He’s been known to get into the theatrics from time to time. Maye, jokingly, was quick to remind reporters of that at his press conference this week.
“Stef’s probably dramatic,” Maye said. “Every time he gets (hit), he lays on the ground and acts like he just got hit by an 18-wheeler or something.”
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