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Patriots Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs Building Off ‘Bittersweet’ Debut

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📝 usncan Note: Patriots Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs Building Off ‘Bittersweet’ Debut

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Stefon Diggs waited 315 days to play in his next game.

That wait ended in a loss for the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. But getting to take the field there against the Las Vegas Raiders beat the alternative.

After seeing his 2024 campaign end with a torn right ACL last October, the veteran wide receiver had been cleared in time for training camp. And while he found himself serving as spectator in the preseason, he found himself serving as a starter to begin September.

“It felt good. I actually missed the contact portion of it as far as getting hit a little bit,” Diggs told reporters during his Wednesday locker room availability. “I look forward to getting back out there. You know, I’m more thankful than anything. I hate losing. I obviously wasn’t too happy about that. But at the same time, I took a lot from it as far as me getting back out there, getting acclimated again, getting some contact, catching the ball again. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Diggs played 40 out of 71 offensive snaps in his Patriots debut. He caught six of the seven passes sent his way. Those catches became 57 yards.

And 45 of those yards were accounted for after halftime.

“I came in pretty confident as far as how I felt body-wise,” Diggs said. “It was just more so just getting back out there. First game of the season, it’s no different than if I never got hurt. That first game, you got to just kind of get adjusted again. I’m around a bunch of new guys, too, getting their temperament and their energy. I’m still learning. I’m still new. As far as getting stronger, I felt pretty strong. Wish it wasn’t raining.”

The 20-13 loss in the elements included five wide receivers. With undrafted free agent Efton Chism III inactive, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams were also on hand for the depth chart.

Patriots starting quarterback Drake Maye attempted 46 passes by afternoon’s end. By then, the offense had gone 4-of-14 on third down and endured an interception under duress.

“We weren’t winning, so like for the moment, I couldn’t be too happy,” said Diggs. “But this isn’t a selfish sport. For me, I just took my little moment to be grateful and kind of bask in the ambiance of where I was. I’m back doing what I love. Trying to play at a high level, getting open and catching the ball. So, I had my moments where I was like, ‘Damn, I missed it so much.’ I’m just so thankful to be back with what I love to do. For me, I had that moment. But at the same time, losing, so it was bittersweet.”

A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro by way of the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, Diggs was on pace for his seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season last fall. That streak came to an end on a non-contact play.

But after signing a three-year, $63.5 million deal featuring $16.6 million fully guaranteed in March, he would be tackled by safety Jamal Adams, linebackers Devin White and Germaine Pratt, as well as cornerback Eric Stokes in the opener.

“I’ve been playing the game for a long time, so I know what it takes to prepare the right way, get out there,” the 31-year-old Diggs said. “You only can put yourself in the position to have the opportunity to win. It doesn’t mean you’re going to win, but you can doing everything in your power to put yourself in the best position.”

The next opportunity arrives against the Miami Dolphins. Sunday’s AFC East kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET.

“We live in that realm of just farming your own land,” added Diggs. “I try to farm my own land. Like, be where you’re supposed to be, get open, catch the ball and we’ll kind of figure it out from there. The fixes that we can do, I feel like it’s more internal and just with us.”