We have another indication that wide receiver Stefon Diggs feels healthy enough for Week 1 of the Patriots' NFL season.
On Thursday's 'Greg Hill Show,' 13-year Patriots veteran Devin McCourty shared an encouraging story about why Diggs didn't play in New England's first preseason game against the Washington Commanders:
"We talked to him after practice. He was still energetic after the joint practice with Washington, he was like, 'I told them I could do everything. I'm 100%,' he said. But they told him, 'Hey, we need you in the games. We need you during those big moments and we want you to be healthy. You've done this for a while now. You've been in preseason games. You've been in practices. We just want to be smart.'"
Head coach Mike Vrabel told the show Diggs' scratch from the game was a "coach's decision" during his Patriots Monday appearance earlier this week. The 31-year-old tore his ACL midway through the 2024-25 season. He's been an active participant through the vast majority of the offseason and preseason program since the final day of OTAs.
McCourty agreed with the team's approach against Washington.
"I think that makes a lot of sense," McCourty said. "As a guy who got to play 13 years, I think there is an advantage to trying to map out a plan for you to be your best in those moments. He's out there, he's going to be playing, but coming off an ACL - even though he looks amazing - I give them credit for saying, 'Hey, let's not take this too far. Let's not take this new receiver, who we really like, and just throw him out there just so we can watch him in preseason.'"
"I think it will pay off for them," he added. "He's playing football. They're just not throwing him out there like he's 25. They're actually thinking about the maul that he's put on his body, and how to actually get the best out of Diggs later in the season."
Diggs has recorded 1,000+ yard seasons as a receiver every year between 2018 and 2023, and was on pace for another prior to his injury with the Houston Texans last year.