Mike Vrabel: Stefon Diggs is engaged, I like his energy
After receiver Stefon Diggs got himself into a bit of controversy, he's been with the team to end the club's offseason program — including at minicamp this week.
Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about Diggs and how he's done in the building on Monday.
'Good. I mean, he's tried to figure out where everything is and what his role is, making sure that as we add those situations — the third down, the no-huddle, the red zone — that he's staying up on it,' Vrabel said in his press conference. 'He's working hard in his rehab and when he can — there's certain drills he can be out there and certain drills he won't be. But I think he's engaged and I like his energy.'
That's about all the Patriots can ask for inside the building, as Diggs continues to rehab from a torn ACL suffered midway through the 2024 season.
In eight games for Houston last year, Diggs caught 47 passes for 496 yards with three touchdowns.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
19 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Drake Maye: Stefon Diggs seems like an awesome teammate
The Patriots added Stefon Diggs this offseason with the thought that the veteran receiver will help elevate an offense quarterbacked by Drake Maye. While Diggs is still recovering from tearing his ACL midway through the 2024 season, he's been in the building and has done some on-field work over the last couple of weeks. Maye said on Monday that the budding partnership between QB and WR is going well. 'Yeah, he seems like an awesome teammate,' Maye said in his press conference, via transcript from the team. 'He's my locker mate, one down from beside me. We talk all the time. He's a veteran in this league. He's made a lot of plays, played in a lot of big-time games. Just an awesome voice for the receiver room, for this offense. He's played in some playoff games. He's had some big games. 'Once he recovers, and he's getting back out there, I'm looking forward to being able to throw him some footballs. It's always good having a guy like that on your team.' Maye added that he's been able to see some of Diggs' work ethic in action. 'In the meetings, [he's] asking questions, asking me after plays, 'Hey, what should I have done there? Hey, in the past, I've done this when the guy's playing this leverage,' stuff like that,' Maye said. 'He's seen a lot of different things, played a long time in this league. It's been great for me. A veteran receiver, him, Mack [Hollins], Kendrick Bourne. We got three, not really old heads, but old heads in their 30s. It's been awesome for us to find how they lead the room and help this offense.' Last season, Diggs caught 47 passes for 496 yards with three touchdowns in eight games for Houston.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Longtime Browns RB and legend Nick Chubb expected to sign with Texans
We have likely seen the last of running back Nick Chubb in a Cleveland Browns uniform. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport has reported that, barring a bad physical, the former All-Pro running back is expected to sign with the Houston Texans on Monday. This comes after Chubb suffered season-ending injuries in back-to-back seasons to end his time in Cleveland. This includes a devastating tear of his ACL and MCL in 2023. The writing was on the wall in Cleveland at the end of April. The Browns drafted not one, but two running backs in the middle rounds of the 2025 NFL draft. They used a top-40 pick on Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins, then turned around to use their fourth round pick on Tennessee's Dylan Sampson. The Browns also renegotiated the final year of Jerome Ford's contract to lower his base salary, effectively securing his roster spot. Advertisement The Browns have committed to overhauling their running back room with youth. Chubb ends his time in Cleveland with over 6,800 yards and 51 touchdowns on the ground. He made four Pro Bowls during his time in Northeast Ohio. He will forever go down as one of the best to put on the brown and orange uniform over his seven years spent in Cleveland. Best of luck to a Cleveland legend as he looks to rejuvenate his career in Houston. This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns RB Nick Chubb expected to sign with Texans
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
A solid day for Drake Maye as Patriots really bring energy on first day of minicamp
The New England Patriots kicked off mandatory minicamp in Foxboro on Monday, and the theme of the day was energy. It was abundant on both sides of the ball throughout a spirited practice behind Gillette Stadium. Ahead of the session, head coach Mike Vrabel said Monday and Tuesday's practices would be an extension of what the team has done in OTAs. Monday included a lot of red zone work, and both the offense and the defense brought intensity to the field. Both units competed hard throughout the session, which featured a lot of spirited competition in the red area. The offense would make a play, and then the defense would answer by making a play of its own. We also saw the two sides talking back and forth with each other, though it was in a constructive way rather than a lot of trash talk. (There was also a good amount of trash talk.) Offensive players were chatting with defensive players and vice versa, as both offered up what they had seen on the previous play. There was a point where pass rusher Harold Landry was chatting up quarterback Drake Maye for a few minutes after a play, and that was common among a number of players. Reporters observing Monday's practice kept saying how much fun it was to watch thanks to the energy and investment the players put into it. Here are some more observations from Monday's minicamp practice: Another solid day for Drake Maye I thought Monday was a good learning day for Maye. He had command throughout the practice and made a bunch of plays during the session, though there were times he held onto the ball a little too long. Maye had a nice touchdown to Pop Douglas, where the receiver juked his defender to get to the end zone. But then he tried to dunk the football on the goalpost, and that didn't work out too well for the 5-foor-8 Douglas. Maye also hit rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson on a nice angle route during red zone work. He didn't force many passes during Monday's red zone drills. After practice wrapped up, he gushed about how great it is to work against the New England defense. He especially likes the challenge of going against corners Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis, whom he called one of the best corner duos in the NFL. "I tell Gonzo every day I'm going to test him," said Maye. "For me, it's just playing the chess match with them. It's been fun, a good matchup with our defense. They do a lot of different stuff and it's a great workout for us." Maye is well aware of the high expectations surrounding him heading into his second NFL season. He's not worried about living up to them, and in fact welcomes the challenge. "I think you want high expectations. The Patriots are used to winning and that's what we're trying to get back to," said Maye. "You want people to expect you to play good and that pressure is what fuels you out here; fuels you to get the rep right in practice, fuels you to work hard in the meetings and the weight room. It fuels you to not let what happened last year happen again." Kyle Williams had Patriots' Play of the Day Rookie receiver Kyle Williams had another big play for the New England offense Monday. He scored on a roughly 50-yard bomb down the middle from backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Stefon Diggs engaged and bringing energy Diggs wasn't able to do much on Monday as he continues to recover from ACL surgery. But head coach Mike Vrabel praised Diggs for his energy ahead of the session, and Maye can already see his impact despite Diggs not being able to make plays on the field. "He seems like an awesome teammate. He's my locker mate. We talk all the time," Maye said. "A veteran in this league, he's made a lot of plays and played in a lot of big time games. Awesome voice for the receiver room and this offense. "Once he recovers and gets back out there, I'm looking forward to being able to throw him some footballs," Maye added. "Always good to have a guy like that on your team." Diggs came out for a couple of routes at the end of Monday's session, but did most of his work on a side field with Ja'Lynn Polk. He also did a lot of talking with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels at one point on Monday. Christian Barmore looked good, as did the defensive front The New England defensive front is a big key to the team's success this season. "That's gotta be a strength for us this year, that front seven. We certainly invested in that position and I like how they're competing and like how they're working," Vrabel said of the unit before practice. "I'm excited where they're at and they're learning a lot of installation. They're working hard and getting in shape." The return of Christian Barmore will help. He's back after he was lost for most of last season as he dealt with a scary bout with blood clots, and Barmore looked good on the field Monday. While the no-contact rules mean defensive players can't do much during practices, newcomer Milton Williams said all the big fellas in the trenches are doing what they can when they're out on the field. "Right now, there is only so much we can do as far as rushing, power, stopping the run and things like that. We've been focused on communication, making sure we end up in the right spot, and running and making sure we get in shape," said Williams. Williams was that investment Vrabel alluded to, after the team gave him a four-year, $104 million deal that includes $63 million guaranteed in the offseason. Williams played just half of Philadelphia's defensive snaps last season, but said that wasn't his decision. He's gearing up for a much bigger workload in New England. "I'm training to play as much as I can. I'm going out whenever they call my number," said Williams. "I'll be in shape and ready for whatever." Other big plays Isaiah Bolden had a nice play in the secondary when he picked off Dobbs in the red zone and returned it for a pick-six. He also broke up a pass by third-stringer Ben Wooldridge in the red zone. Undrafted running back Lan Larison also turned some heads on Monday when he scored a touchdown on a nice wheel route. Patriots attendance at minicamp Diggs and Polk were both limited among Patriots receivers, as were offensive linemen Mike Onwenu, Vederian Lowe, and rookie Jared Wilson. Receiver Mack Hollins, linemen Wes Schweitzer and Tyrese Robinson, and linebacker Jahlani Tavai (who was injured in last week's OTA practice) did not participate on Monday. One more minicamp practice The Patriots will practice one more time Tuesday afternoon. They'll be back at the facilities Wednesday, but Vrabel has already called off that day's practice. Then players will get a nice break before returning for Training Camp in late July. "Really starting to find a stride and I'm kinda bummed out we're about to leave," said Maye. Maye has some pretty big plans ahead of training camp though. He told reporters Monday he's getting married in two weeks.
