Update: Diggs attended day two of the Buffalo Bills minicamp Wednesday after missing the first day.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs missed the team’s mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, which seemed to surprise Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott.
A day later, McDermott attempted to clarify the situation after Diggs attended practice.
“Let me be clear,” McDermott told reporters Wednesday. “Stef did everything he was asked to do. He was here on Monday and performed his medical on time. Great conversation – great communication, and we got to a point yesterday where we just had the felt like we all needed a break and some space, so I gave Stef permission to take some space and go, and then resumed those conversations after practice.
“So let me be clear. It wasn’t Stef who left without an excuse. He was excused by me. And so these conversations gave us what I think and believe is a great place.”
McDermott originally said on Tuesday said he was “very worried” with Diggs’ absence, but didn’t say why Diggs didn’t show up. Diggs was reportedly at the team facility on Monday for pre-minicamp medical testing, according to Adam Benigni and Vic Carucci of WGRZ.
Things got even more confusing on Tuesday after Diggs agent said the receiver “would be there for the duration of minicamp” and also told NFL Network that “there are things being worked on – about to be worked out”. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson later reported that Diggs and the Bills have had private conversations and that the two parties are “on the same page” despite McDermott’s alarming response.
Bills players also rang. Edge rusher Von Miller said he’s not worried about Diggs’ situation because Diggs told him recently that he wanted to win a Super Bowl in Buffalo. Quarterback Josh Allen later added that Diggs and the Bills were working on “non-football” things.
“Stef, he’s my guy”, Allen said. “Excuse me…I [expletive] love it. He’s one of my brothers. It doesn’t work, what we’re doing here, without him.”
It’s unclear exactly what Diggs’ situation entails and if there’s even a contract dispute between him and the Bills. He signed a four-year, $96 million extension with Buffalo in the 2022 offseason and he’ll earn $70 million guaranteed over the life of that deal, per Over The Cap. Diggs restructured that deal last March to save Buffalo $5.4 million in salary cap.
He also posted 1,000-yard seasons for five straight years and is tied for first with 338 receptions since the Bills were traded to him in 2020. Diggs ranks fourth in receiving yards and fifth in touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Dating back to 2017 — while still with the Minnesota Vikings — Diggs has lost three times in the divisional round of the playoffs and twice in the conference championship. When the Bills lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2023 AFC Divisional Round, 27-10, Diggs sent out a series of tweets that indicated his displeasure with the team’s inability to win at the time. most important.
He was also seen frustrated with Bills quarterback Josh Allen during the Bengals game. Allen finished with just 264 passing yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He scored the Bills’ only touchdown on a 1-yard run. Diggs, meanwhile, finished the game with four receptions for 35 yards on a game-high 10 targets.
Although money or its role is not an issue, winning might be.
Again, it’s hard to say why Diggs didn’t practice on Tuesday. That’s probably not a barrier since his contract is among the highest in his position and it would cost the Bills $13.2 million to trade him. But Diggs still seems unhappy for some reason.