Mike Vrabel seemingly shrugs off idea that Stefon Diggs won’t be ready for Week 1
"Do you really believe that ... or are you just trying to bait me into something?"
Stefon Diggs caused a bit of a stir Wednesday when he told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini that he wasn’t sure if he’d be ready for Week 1 of the NFL season.
On Thursday, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel quickly shut down that idea, all but confirming that — barring unforseen setbacks — Diggs will indeed be a Week 1 starter after tearing his ACL last season.
Patriots beat writer Phil Perry asked Vrabel about Diggs’s comments, and the response was jeering.
“Did you really believe that, Phil? I mean, you’re a smart guy,” Vrabel said. “I don’t know where you went to school — it wasn’t Ohio State. But like, do you really believe that? Do you really believe that, Phil, or are you just trying to bait me into something?”
Vrabel elaborated, and although he was careful not to say for certain that Diggs will be good to go, he certainly expects it.
“I don’t know the context in which he said it, but you’d have to help me. I mean, he’s been out here almost every day,” Vrabel said. “I’m excited of where he’s at and we’ll see when Week 1 comes, but he’s going to practice today. Hopefully he helps us in the red zone, but we can’t predict the future about Week 1. I just know he’s going to be out there today, and he works hard and he cares, which are two important things.”
Since Diggs arrived in Foxborough for offseason workouts, it seemed from an outside perspective that he was well ahead of schedule on his rehab. His cuts were crisp enough during OTAs for him to be one of the quickest wide receivers on the Patriots despite his injury.
On top of that, Diggs never carried an injury designation into training camp. While some of his peers found their way to the PUP and NFI lists, Diggs didn’t miss any time. He didn’t play in the Patriots first preseason game — likely either a precautionary move or due to his veteran status, or both — but he hasn’t missed a training camp practice and has been present during live joint practices.
So although Diggs may have been coy about his status as of Wednesday, all signs continue to point to the former Pro Bowl receiver making his way on the field for New England’s season opener on Sept. 7.
His presence will be a welcome addition to New England’s offense, which hasn’t had a Pro Bowl wide receiver (other than core special teamer Matthew Slater) since Wes Welker’s last bid in 2012.
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