On Monday, the Patriots held another Organized Team Activity (OTA) practice at Gillette Stadium - the third OTA of the spring open to the media.
Before practice, assistant coaches were made available, with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels speaking at the podium for only the second time since being hired for his third stint as New England’s OC earlier this year.
He was asked about veteran receiver Stefon Diggs, who was not present during the first two OTA practices open to the media, and made waves last week after being seen in a now-viral social media video on a boat giving a bag of an unknown substance to a group of women in bikinis.
“How concerned are you about that missed time?” NBC Sports Boston’s Phill Perry asked McDaniels. “What is he missing right now? You just mentioned this is an important time to kind of develop that togetherness you’re talking about.”
“Again, it’s a voluntary part of the year, we know that,” said McDaniels. “I don’t know if we’ve ever had perfect attendance at these things in general.
“As a coach, selfishly, you’d love it when they’re all here, because you feel like you’ve got them all in the classroom and all on the field and the rest of it. He’s here today, and we’re excited to have an opportunity to work with the guys that are out here and available to us.”
Even though Monday would mark the first OTA practice that media has seen Diggs attend this spring, McDaniels said that he’s not worried about the 31-year-old’s progress with learning the new offense.
“I know he’s staying up on the information and the material,” said McDaniels. “And there’s so many things and opportunities for us to teach all our guys going forward. Between the rest of the practices here in the spring, and then going into the summer and the many days we have before we actually kick the ball off in September. So I’m not concerned about Stef in that regard.”
Earlier this year, Diggs signed a three-year deal with the Patriots worth $69 million, with $26 million guaranteed. The two-time All-Pro is heading into the 2025 season coming off a torn ACL, which he sustained during Week 8 last season while playing for the Texans.
Whether or not Diggs will be available to return to the football field for Week 1 this season against the Raiders remains unclear at the moment. But as of Monday, he was seen on the practice field running through drills with his teammates in shorts and a helmet, just like everyone else.
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