Patriots WRs coach Todd Downing offered a measured assessment of Stefon Diggs this week. “I think where he’s at in his process right now is where we want him to be. He’s working hard when he’s out there with his reps, and you see him making some plays.” That progress report comes as the veteran receiver navigates his first training camp in New England after an up-and-down offseason. Diggs, the Patriots’ prized addition, has shown flashes of his Pro Bowl form during practice sessions. The precise route-running and the reliable hands that made him one of the league’s most productive receivers for six straight seasons.
Yet his absence from last Friday’s preseason opener against Washington raised natural questions about his timeline. But when pressed about those looming questions, Diggs gave answers that revealed more than he probably intended. Diggs recently sat down with the insider for The Athletic, Dianna Russini, and gave the kind of honest, unfiltered answers we’ve come to expect from him. Though Patriots fans might wish he’d been a little more definitive about his Week 1 status. “Everybody’s excited, man. I’m just taking it day by day. I feel great. I mean, I’m pushing the needle always. I’m always doing more than less. And we’ll see about week one.”
EXCLUSIVE: When I asked Stefon Diggs about his Week 1 status, it was more about what he didn’t say…pic.twitter.com/JNXSqWQCCS
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 14, 2025
That “we’ll see” carries weight. Ten months removed from that October day in Houston when his knee buckled without contact – ending his six-season streak of 1,000-yard campaigns – Diggs knows better than to rush this. His tone said as much: “Coaches aren’t too excited. I’m not too excited. I’m just trying to take it day by day, so we’ll see, man. It looks like we just don’t know where it’s going to go.”
The Patriots certainly aren’t panicking. They signed the 31-year-old to a $63 million deal knowing the timeline, and he’s already exceeding expectations in camp. But when Mike Vrabel was asked about holding Diggs out of preseason action, his terse “Coach’s decision” spoke volumes.
Here’s what we know: Diggs looks like Diggs in practice – crisp routes, reliable hands. But after 140 games of wear and tear, New England seems content to let their new weapon dictate his own pace. As for Week 1? “We’ll see.” Just don’t expect him to say more than that. There is more that’s turning heads in Foxborough, while Diggs plays it cautious, Drake Maye is already changing the energy in that receivers room, and his approach says everything about where this offense might be headed…
Mike Vrabel pushes Drake Maye to lead
While Diggs navigates his comeback, Drake Maye is busy rewriting the QB playbook, not with flashy throws (though he’s made plenty), but with a leadership style that’s already turning heads. When Mike Vrabel pushes him to demand more from the offense, Maye doesn’t just accept the challenge; he craves it.
“I want somebody to push me to do more for the team,” Maye admitted after Wednesday’s joint practice with the Vikings. “I think us guys on offense, Mike Onwenu, Morgan [Moses], Hunter [Henry], Mondre [Stevenson], Stef Diggs, we’re going to challenge ourselves to lead. It starts with me building those guys, then from there, guys can bounce off… I tell those guys to push me.”
That mindset explains why, after Mack Hollins hauled in that 40-yard TD during 11-on-11s, he punctuated it by punting the ball into the end zone, a fiery reminder that big plays deserve bigger energy. “I’ve saved up a couple of dollars so I could pay the fine,” Hollins joked later about the unsportsmanlike penalty, but the message was clear: This offense needs to finish stronger.
NFL, American Football Herren, USA 2024: Jets vs Patriots OCT 27 October 27, 2024: New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye 10 warms up before a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Eric Canha/CSM/Sipa USA Credit Image: Eric Canha/Cal Media/Sipa USA Foxborough Gillette Stadium Massachusetts USA NOxUSExINxGERMANY PUBLICATIONxINxALGxARGxAUTxBRNxBRAxCANxCHIxCHNxCOLxECUxEGYxGRExINDxIRIxIRQxISRxJORxKUWxLIBxLBAxMLTxMEXxMARxOMAxPERxQATxKSAxSUIxSYRxTUNxTURxUAExUKxVENxYEMxONLY Copyright: xCalxSportxMediax Editorial use only
Maye gets it. His day had moments where he threaded needles between defenders and others where Minnesota’s blitz overwhelmed the pocket, but his focus never wavered from the bigger picture. “Just creating unity,” he stressed when asked about preseason goals. “Fighting for each other,” added the young QB.
Vrabel sees the growth, too. “It’s not that it’s lacking,” the coach said of Maye’s leadership after watching him direct traffic at the line. “I just always want more.” Turns out, so does his QB. So, in Foxborough, two storylines are colliding: a veteran receiver learning patience, and a rookie QB racing ahead. What makes this Patriots season fascinating isn’t just who takes the field Week 1, but how these contrasting approaches mold an offense finding its identity. One thing’s certain? Nobody’s settling for ‘good enough.’
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