Stefon Diggs may no longer be with the Buffalo Bills, but the offseason drama surrounding him seems far from over.
In a surprising trade, Diggs was sent to the Houston Texans, ending months of speculation about his future with the Bills. His decision to skip the team’s offseason activities last year had already raised eyebrows, and now his absence from the Texans’ initial voluntary practices is stirring up similar concerns.
### Stefon Diggs: A Familiar Scenario
Kyle Silagyi from SI.com highlighted the parallels to last year when Diggs caused a stir in Buffalo by missing optional OTAs. This followed an incident during the playoffs where Diggs was visibly frustrated with quarterback Josh Allen during a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Diggs not only skipped all optional practices but was also dismissed from the first day of mandatory minicamp by head coach Sean McDermott. He returned the next day and managed to avoid further public controversies for the rest of the season. However, his performance dipped, with no touchdown catches in the team’s final seven games.
Silagyi pointed out that Diggs was not required to attend the Texans’ first practices, yet his absence has triggered a sense of déjà vu among Bills fans.
“It’s almost nostalgic—and somewhat amusing—to see him already missing an OTA practice. It’s like déjà vu all over again,” Silagyi commented.
Others have downplayed the significance of Diggs missing practice. ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime noted that it’s common for veteran players to skip optional sessions, mentioning that left tackle Laremy Tunsil also missed OTAs for the Texans.
Does it worry you that Stefon Diggs didn’t show up to workouts this week?@Djbienaime: “No need to stress about it at all.”
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/xC9K6bBYDm
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) May 24, 2024
### Bills Anticipate Boost from Revamped Offense
The Buffalo Bills have revamped their offense this offseason, highlighted by the departure of No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis in free agency and the arrival of rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman, selected 33rd overall. Quarterback Josh Allen expressed high hopes for Coleman, noting his addition addresses a key need for the team’s passing game.
“Keon’s playing style is exactly what we’ve been missing,” Allen remarked on the NFL Network. “After discussions with our offensive coordinator Joe Brady, quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry, general manager Brandon Beane, and coach Sean McDermott, it’s clear that his big-bodied presence and ability to win back-shoulder fades as a physical wide receiver is just what we needed.”
Allen also praised the team’s other offseason acquisitions, indicating confidence in the newly formed wide receiver unit despite losing key players like Diggs and Davis.
“Combining Coleman with the talent we currently have, like Mack Hollins, whose mentality has been a great addition, and Curtis Samuel, who shows up ready to work every day, we have a strong group,” Allen said. “When you add Dawson Knox into the mix, we’ve put together a solid group that can work well together.”
