Wide receiver Stefon Diggs will return to his former home when the New England Patriots face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Diggs spent four seasons with the Bills and earned his only four Pro Bowl selections during that time, then was traded to the Houston Texans following the 2023 season. He caught 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns for the Texans before a torn ACL ended his 2024 season after eight games.
The Patriots (2-2) signed Diggs in March. He has 19 receptions (22 targets) for 213 yards in four games. He caught six passes for 101 yards in New England’s 42-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers last week.
“Very impressed, not surprised, but very impressed in terms of how he looks,” Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said. “He looks great. Very few can come off an injury like that from a timing standpoint, especially that first year and look the way he looks. I’m not surprised, he’s a heck of an athlete and he works really hard.”
The Sunday game will be the first time Diggs has played in Buffalo since he was traded. He caught six passes for 82 yards in a 23-20 victory over the Bills last season, but that game was played in Houston.
“It’s going to be a crazy atmosphere,” Diggs told ESPN. “Obviously, I spent a lot of years there. They have one of the best fan bases in the game, if not the best fan base. So, shout out to them. In the division, they say it’s one game, but it damn near counts as two. I’m excited for the challenge.”
The Bills (4-0) are the only unbeaten team in the AFC and will be seeking their 15th consecutive regular-season victory at home. Detroit (137) is the only NFL team that has scored more points than Buffalo (133) this season.
“Certainly it will be a huge challenge,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said. “We’re well aware of (the Bills’ home winning streak) and have to do a lot of really good things to give ourselves a chance.
“They’re playing good football. They’re playing clean football. They’re not beating themselves. They’re doing a nice job in all phases.”
Offensive tackle Spencer Brown (calf), defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle) and linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral) all took part in Buffalo’s practice on Wednesday, although all three had limited participation. It was the first time Oliver and Milano have practiced since being injured. Oliver hasn’t suited up since a 41-40 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, and Milano has missed the past two games.
Brown was limited in practice last week and was inactive for Buffalo’s 31-19 win over the New Orleans Saints. Tight end Jackson Hawes (ankle) also had limited practice participation on Wednesday.
In addition, McDermott said linebacker Dorian Williams is questionable for the Sunday night game because of a leg injury.
New England safety Jaylinn Hawkins (hamstring) and linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (non-injury), defensive tackle Milton Williams (ankle) and guard Jared Wilson (ankle/knee) were limited on Wednesday.
Vrabel had a 2-3 record against Buffalo when he was the Tennessee Titans’ head coach.
The past five times the Patriots and Bills squared off, the home team won each game.
–Field Level Media
