FOXBOROUGH – Stefon Diggs casts a large shadow.
A four-time Pro Bowler, the veteran is arguably the most accomplished player on the Patriots roster. He’s the most established offensive weapon in Drake Maye’s arsenal.
Still, there are some unknowns when it comes to Diggs returning after suffering a torn ACL last season. The 31-year-old surprised many when he started Patriots training camp on time and was mainly a full participant.
Despite not playing in the preseason, Mike Vrabel said on Monday morning that Diggs will be ready for the start of the season. By the time the Patriots open up their season against the Las Vegas Raiders, Maye envisions things working out well between him and his accomplished pass catcher.
“Shoot, he’s a phenomenal player – what he can do and how much ball he’s played and the plays he makes. I just try to get him the football,” Maye said about Diggs on Monday. “Whether it’s extra work with him, in practice or in the film room, we’re trying to be on the same page. I think once he’s got 1-on-1 matchups or feels zone, knows coverage really well, and he can do a lot of things well. It’s good for us to use him as much as he’s able to handle.
“It’s exciting to go out there and throw him a couple of footballs and build the chemistry in practice. I think we’ve kind of built it here lately, and I think just carry that into the season.”
This summer, in 18 practices, Diggs hauled in 20 passes from Maye in full-team drills. That was second on the Patriots behind DeMario Douglas (25).
In each practice, the Patriots and Maye seemed intentional about getting the veteran receiver the ball. It wasn’t unusual to see the quarterback target Diggs on early downs. Although he wasn’t involved in many explosive plays, the veteran turned heads during 7-on-7 drills and 1-on-1 matchups with several highlight-reel catches.
When the Patriots begin their season, Diggs’ ability and role with the offense will be one of the top Patriots storylines to monitor. The team hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. Rob Gronkowski was their last pass-catching Pro Bowler.
On Monday, Maye was asked if he feels pressure, as a young quarterback, to target Diggs when he’s on the field.
“I wouldn’t say pressure,” Maye said. “He knows the play. I always try to tell the guys – if you see something, give me something on the sideline. I’m going to try to throw to the guys who are open. If he’s open a lot, then he’ll get the ball a lot.”
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