Stefon Diggs' inactivity in Patriots' preseason opener was 'coach's decision'

Doug Kyed, Boston Herald on Aug 11, 2025

Published in Football

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Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel didn’t get into specifics on why wide receiver Stefon Diggs sat out Friday’s preseason opener against the Commanders.

Vrabel was asked Monday morning if Diggs’ inactivity was health-related on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.”

“Coach’s decision” was all Vrabel would offer.

Diggs was present on the sideline for Friday’s preseason game, but he didn’t suit up during warmups or on the bench. Diggs has been a full participant in practice for most of the summer despite recovering from a torn ACL suffered in October. He did miss the first half of Wednesday’s joint practice with the Commanders for unspecified reasons.

The veteran wide receiver got out to a hot start in training camp but has been quiet in recent sessions.

“I think where he’s at in his process right now is where we want him to be,” wide receivers coach Todd Downing said of Diggs on Monday. “He’s working hard when he’s out there with his reps and you see him making some plays. The big thing with him is understanding that we can’t confuse results with the process. So if there’s a day that he doesn’t have a whole bunch of production, that doesn’t mean he didn’t do his job and get open. The process for him is going to have to be learning this system and learning exactly what the quarterback and what Josh (McDaniels) are looking for, and making sure that he’s in the right spot at the right time as he continues to refine that. I think he’ll stay on the trajectory we expect him to be on.”

Diggs certainly has his fair share of catches this summer, but wide receivers like Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism have made more highlight plays.

The Patriots will practice against Diggs’ old team, the Vikings, in Minnesota on Wednesday and Thursday.