Stefon Diggs is making headlines before even stepping on the field for the New England Patriots.
Over the weekend, footage surfaced of the NFL wide receiver flashing an unidentified pink substance while surrounded by three women on a boat.
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The video quickly went viral, with new head coach Mike Vrabel forced to address the matter at the beginning of a press conference on Wednesday.
He suggested the Patriots will handle the incident internally.
“It’s something we’re aware of and obviously we want to make great decisions on and off the field,” Vrabel, who drafted new protector Will Campbell fourth overall last month, told reporters.
“Any conversations that I’ve had with Stefon will remain between him and I and the club.”
The video will be an unwelcome distraction for the Patriots and Diggs, who was not present for Wednesday’s voluntary organized team activity.
New England signed the 31-year-old to a three-year, $69million contract — which put both C.J. Stroud and Gronk on alert — in March.
Diggs arrived amid continued rehabilitation from a torn ACL that he sustained in Week 8 last season with the Houston Texans.
He was present for at least one of the Patriots’ voluntary practices last week, and on Wendesday, also shared a video of a rather unusual private workout.
In footage posted on his social media account, Diggs is seen running drills while tethered to a street lamp.
He appeared to be working on his movement, exploding away from the post before dancing through the cones laid out on the grass.
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Diggs also shared more traditional workout videos, which showed him running different routs and catching the ball.
While there is no official timeline for the WR’s return to action, there is hope he may not miss as much of the 2025 season as once expected.
Having torn his ACL last October, may assumed Diggs would miss a majority of the year.
But according to Patriots insider Chad Graff, there is reasonable expectation that he could return by Week 4.
Vrabel, who fielded six straight questions on Diggs at the start of his media availability on Wednesday, refused to put a timeline on his veteran’s comeback.
He said: “The timelines, and the prognosis, we’re working hard to get him back and be ready to go.
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“When he’s here, we’ll coach him and have him ready to go.”
New England are hoping Diggs will be able to elevate a WR group that finished last in the NFL with 1,723 receiving yards in 2024.
The four-time Pro Bowler will be top of the depth chart when he returns, with fellow veteran free agent signing Mack Hollins, third-year slot receiver DeMario Douglas and 2025 third-round draft pick Kyle Williams for competition.
Up until his ACL tear last year, Diggs had a streak of six straight 1,000-yard seasons.
The Pats, meanwhile, have not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019.
So while Diggs might have caused a bit of a PR headache before even taking a snap, New England will hope he’ll show enough quality once playing to put his off-field antics to the back of the mind.
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