PALM BEACH, Fla. — Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wouldn’t give a timeline on wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ recovery from knee surgery, but he did say the newly signed pass catcher is “on schedule.”
Diggs tore his ACL in October. He’s on track to return for Week 1, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“I try to stay away from timelines and predictions,” Vrabel said Monday morning at the NFL Annual Meeting. “I know that he’s working hard to get back, which is exciting. I think by all accounts, everything is on schedule, and we feel good about where his rehab is, and what he’s doing. But, I think with any injury, I’m never going to put a timeline on it. I don’t think it’s fair to the player what one person’s MCL injury may be, is not the same as another player’s injury. Everybody recovers differently. As long as they’re working hard to get back with every injury, that’s all we can ask of him. I just don’t think it’s fair to put a timeline on it.”
Diggs officially signed Friday and held an introductory press conference.
Vrabel is excited to get him back in the building at Gillette Stadium.
“Stefon brings an energy to him. It’s fun to coach players like that, guys that have a confidence to them, that understand the game of football, that have been around, that have developed,” Vrabel said. “This isn’t like a first-round draft pick. Stefon went later in the draft and continued to improve. He’s done that and been productive each and every year. I love his energy. I love our conversation so far and am looking forward to getting him back there and helping him recover from the surgery.”
Diggs is expected to be the Patriots’ top pass catcher when healthy. They still have options to add more help at wide receiver via trades and through the draft.