Stefon Diggs crossed the goal line for the first time this season on a 1-yard catch in the third quarter.
Stefon Diggs crossed the goal line for the first time this season on a 1-yard catch in the third quarter.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
FOXBOROUGH — Going into Sunday’s game against the Browns, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and some of his teammates had started razzing veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
“[Outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson] had more touchdowns than Stef did,” Maye cracked.
Through seven games, Diggs had yet to find the end zone with one of his 39 catches on the season. He came close against the Bills in Week 5, reaching the 4-yard line.
Midway through the third quarter Sunday, it looked as though Diggs was going to come up short once again. On second and goal from the Cleveland 9, Browns cornerback Tyson Campbell tackled him a yard shy of the end zone. After the play, Diggs started slapping the goal line with both hands to acknowledge he knew exactly what had happened.
On the very next play, though, Maye went right back to Diggs on a quick throw.
Diggs made the catch, crossed the goal line, and let out a scream before spiking the football.
“I’m happy to get him in the end zone,” coach Mike Vrabel said after the Patriots’ 32-13 victory. “It was long overdue.”
Between second and third down, Cleveland’s medical staff had tended to Campbell, who remained on the ground after suffering a head injury. During that time, New England’s offense huddled together to discuss not only the upcoming play but also the ensuing celebration.
Sure enough, the offense immediately surrounded Diggs in the end zone to get into formation. The players put their hands on their heads before thrusting their hips once — a nod to Hingle McCringleberry, a football player from an old “Key & Peele” sketch on Comedy Central.
“If we get fined, Stef is paying for all of our fines,” joked right tackle Morgan Moses.
The celebration continued on the sideline, where players and coaches greeted Diggs with endless smiles, hugs, and pats on the back. The outsized reaction speaks to how much the locker room has embraced working with Diggs in his first year with the organization.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel got in on the sideline hijinks after Stefon Diggs scored his first touchdown as a Patriot.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel got in on the sideline hijinks after Stefon Diggs scored his first touchdown as a Patriot.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
“I think I was happier than him,” receiver Kayshon Boutte said. “I think if you look back at the film, I ran from the right side to the left. Two plays before, we were patting the goal line.”
Added rookie wideout Kyle Williams, “We’ve been waiting for him to see that. He’s been working his tail off to get in the end zone. Just seeing him get in that end zone shows you how much the team is invested into each other. We’re more proud of everyone else’s success than our own success. That just shows the unselfishness as a team and as players.”
Diggs finished Sunday’s game with just 14 yards on three catches but has a team-high 470 yards on 42 receptions for the season.
In the offseason, the Patriots wanted to sign Chris Godwin but pivoted to Diggs once Godwin elected to stay in Tampa Bay. After Diggs was signed to a three-year, $69 million contract, there were lingering questions about the decision.
How would he look, at his age (31), coming off a torn ACL? Would he be the right role model for a young receiver room, given how things ended with his previous teams?
With exception to an off-the-field video that went viral this summer, Diggs has proved to be everything the Patriots wanted — and more.
He was ready for Week 1. With an 85.7 percent catch rate, he’s caught nearly every target thrown his way. He hasn’t complained about his target share. He’s said all the right things to the media about his role. He delivers a fiery pregame speech to the team every week before kickoff.
“I’ve really enjoyed being around him every day, with his energy, his communication, and his willingness to learn and play and figure out what it is that we need from him each and every week,” Vrabel said. “He’s vocal, he’s competitive, he cares, he’s a great teammate. He’s been really good for that position and some of the younger guys’ development.”
Williams, who is still acclimating to the NFL after being drafted in the third round, said Diggs has set a strong example through his work ethic each day. Boutte and DeMario Douglas, too, have spoken favorably about his impact.
“He’s somebody that’s just always pushing the envelope, trying to get that one percent better,” Williams said. “I mean, for a guy that’s done so much in his career, to still see that he wants to get better and better and better, and see everybody else gravitate toward that, it tells you how much of a good leader he is.
“He’s doing everything the right way. I know a lot of people have mixed emotions about who he is, but those people are reading everything wrong. You have to actually be in the building to understand who he is. He’s a great guy. I love him.”
Diggs opted to wait until Monday to speak to the media, but his teammates sounded optimistic Sunday’s touchdown was just the start of what’s to come.
“Now that he’s got that feeling in the end zone, we’re just getting started,” Boutte said.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang.