On Friday, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel announced the up-to-date injury designations for Sunday’s game at Tennessee (1-5) after wrapping up their last practice of the week at Gillette Stadium:
- WR Stefon Diggs (Chest)
- DE/OLB Harold Landry III (Ankle)
- S Jaylinn Hawkins (Hamstring)
- CB Charles Woods (Knee)
Headlining that list, of course, is former All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs, who has been quarterback Drake Maye’s favorite target through six games this season.
Diggs leads the team in catches (32), targets (37), receiving yards (387), yards per game (64.5) and yards after catch (147). He’s second on the team in receiving plays of 20+ yards (5) and fourth in yards per catch (12.1).
His impact on the offense has not only helped rise tides in a receivers room that’s been long considered among the worst in the league before this season, he’s also helped propel Maye into the 2025 MVP conversation in a real way, with OddsTrader listing the 23-year-old as having the fourth-best odds to win the award as of publishing.
But with Diggs’ status for Sunday up in the air, Maye will have to lean on the rest of his receiving core to keep the good times rolling against one of the worst teams in the NFL - one who fired their head coach on Monday.
If the 31-year-old isn’t ready to go on Sunday, Vrabel made it clear on Friday that he has plenty of confidence in the rest of the pass catchers on the roster.
“I think they've all shown that when given opportunities, that they've all made plays and all contribute,” Vrabel said Friday of his receivers, sans Diggs. “So yeah, again - everybody here, we have a high level of confidence in to be able to do their job.
“That room is understanding that the ball is going to go to the person that's open first in the progression. It gets mixed around, and the quarterback ultimately has the deciding factor. He's the one that has the football, but it's good to see that guys are taking advantage of their opportunities when they come, not getting frustrated when it doesn't. It's a long season, and I know that the touches, the touchdowns and the explosive plays, I think, will balance itself out.”
Important to note that Diggs was listed by the team as a limited participant for both Wednesday and Thursday’s practices. With that said, there’s been no reporting surrounding the exact details of what Diggs is dealing with or when the injury to his chest was sustained.
Diggs’ injury designation could be one of the factors that has led to the Patriots’ (4-2) falling from a 7-point favorite at FanDuel to a 6.5-point favorite. They’ve gone from as low as a -360 moneyline favorite to -300, and the total has raised from 41.5 to 42.5.
A combination of the bettors and the books believe a Diggs absence gives the Titans a better chance of making this a ballgame. As the weekend progresses, it will be interesting to see where these markets eventually settle.
Stay locked in to WEEI and WEEI.com for all the latest as this story develops.
Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.