FOXBOROUGH — Stefon Diggs’ future was truly uncertain after the veteran wide receiver tore his ACL in Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season.
Set to become a free agent, the biggest question was whether he could return at the same level he had been playing at or if the injury, combined with his age, would prevent that from happening. That’s why some teams decided not to take the risk, but in the end, it was the New England Patriots who signed him.
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From there, Diggs immediately began working and pushed himself so when Week 1 came, he was on the field with his team. It was a slower start, but Diggs finally hit his first 100-yard game in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers, and from there, he kept going. Some weeks were amazing while others were not, but in the end, Diggs finished the season surpassing 1,000 receiving yards, marking the seventh time in his career.
After the game, Patriots Wire took a moment to speak with two receivers who have spent a lot of time with Diggs this season and reflected on the effort he has put in to reach this milestone.
“It’s a blessing to see that because people get injured and that can have you playing with fear just not to get hurt again,” DeMario Douglas explained. “He got that dog in him for him to keep going. And just to see that, it’s inspirational.”
Douglas added that watching Diggs do this inspired him and taught him one clear message: “Don’t let no obstacle bring me down.”
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Kyle Williams echoed these sentiments.
“I can’t put a feeling on how he feels, but I know that he’s him,” the rookie said. “He’s one of those dudes. I mean, to come back from an ACL tear and to put up these type of numbers, it just shows how hard he worked in the offseason. It’s a lot of things that he’s done behind the cameras, behind the scenes, that a lot of people don’t see. And I just think he’s just a great leader overall. So I’m proud of him.”
Yet, while Diggs has hit this milestone, the Patriots are going to need a lot more yards from him in the playoffs.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots receivers reflect on Stefon Diggs hitting 1,000 yard mark