Patriots' Mike Vrabel Shares Stefon Diggs Injury Update Ahead of Season Opener

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 8:47 AM ET

The New England Patriots knew they needed to give Drake Maye a proven weapon in his first full year as a starter. They swung and missed with several targets, like Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin Jr., and ultimately signed Stefon Diggs.

The Patriots gave Diggs a three-year deal worth $69 million, a big gamble after he tore his ACL midway through last season. However, they always sounded confident in his ability and, more importantly, his availability.

Now, less than a year removed from his season-ending injury, it seems like the former Houston Texans star is ready to take the field for Sunday's season opener vs. the Las Vegas Raiders, according to head coach Mike Vrabel and Mike Reiss.

Stefon Diggs Will Play in The Season Opener

“'As of today, he’ll be out there,' Mike Vrabel said on The Greg Hill Show on WR Stefon Diggs and his availability for the season opener. Diggs projects at the top of the depth chart alongside Kayshon Boutte, with Pop Douglas in the slot and Mack Hollins mixing in," wrote Reiss.

“As of today, he’ll be out there.” — Mike Vrabel, to @TheGregHillShow, on WR Stefon Diggs and his availability for the season opener

Diggs projects at the top of the depth chart alongside Kayshon Boutte, with Pop Douglas in the slot and Mack Hollins mixing in.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 2, 2025

Diggs didn't play in the preseason and was non-committal about his availability for the first game of the season. Still, he's been a full participant in practice, so barring a last-second setback, he should be out there for his debut.

The Patriots' decision to give him such a big contract at 31 years old, coming off a major injury, and given his history of power struggles in his previous stops raised some concerns.

Then again, upon further review, they made a lot of sense with the deal they gave him. It has an out after the first year, and it features multiple performance-based incentives and team options.

Diggs got a $12 million signing bonus, but will only make $2.9 million in base salary this season. Also, he has a $6 million guarantee for next season that only becomes fully guaranteed as the start of the campaign, so they could part ways with him with no harm is this experiment doesn't work out.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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