The New England Patriots have to be happy about the way Stefon Diggs' offseason is wrapping up.
He tore his ACL halfway through the 2024 season with the Houston Texans, but the Pats signed Diggs as a free agent anyway, and it looks like their optimism about his recovery will be rewarded.
Diggs didn't play in the preseason, but he's expected to suit up in Week 1 when the Patriots take on the Raiders on Sunday.
"As of (Tuesday), he'll be out there," Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said in a radio appearance on WEEI.
MORE: Derrick Henry reveals his retirement plans
Diggs practiced without limitations during training camp, which made it seem likely that this would be the outcome despite the Patriots holding him out of preseason games.
The precise, smooth wideout was injured in his eighth game of the 2024 season, his only campaign in Houston. He had 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns (and a rushing TD) up to that point in the season.
Diggs is entering his 11th season in the NFL. He spent his first five years in Minnesota, then four seasons in Buffalo before the lone year with the Texans. Diggs has five seasons with 100-plus catches and six seasons with more than 1,000 yards.
MORE: Devin Hester Jr. is great at returns, but he isn't the Bears' Hall of Famer's son
He's slated to be WR1 in New England for quarterback Drake Maye.
On the Pats' depth chart, Diggs is listed as a first-team wide receiver along with Demario Douglas and Mack Hollins. New England also has promising younger receivers Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism.
If they've got Diggs out there from the first play of the season leading the way, that's a big help.
MORE NFL NEWS:
- Saints release an All-Pro, and Alvin Kamara has an NSFW response
- This Shedeur Sanders and Arch Manning comparison makes a lot of sense
- Saints just signed their next Taysom Hill
- Myles Garrett has been offered the chance to play a different sport
- Patriots' rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson is the real deal
- Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt fell to 7th round for wild NCAA reason