Assault charges loom over Stefon Diggs, potentially sidelining the star receiver from crucial playoff games and impacting his team's postseason hopes.
With the NFL postseason set to start the second weekend in January, two of the hottest teams in the AFC could be on a collision course to face each other in the later rounds of the playoffs, namely the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots.
If that were to happen, one former Texans player and current Patriots player could be missing from the starting lineup.
Patriots’ wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who was with the Texans last season, was charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery after an alleged Dec. 2 incident with a female chef.
Diggs, 31, had 47 receptions for 496 yards and four total touchdowns in his eight appearances for the Texans before tearing his ACL against the Indianapolis Colts in October. He signed a three-year deal with New England this past offseason.
The alleged incident occurred after the Patriots defeated the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.
According to Boston 25 News, Michael DiStefano, one of Diggs’s attorneys, appeared remotely in court Tuesday morning and asked that the primary police report be sealed as his client continues to try to work out a financial agreement with the alleged victim.
After the court hearing, a spokesperson for New England released a statement saying that the Patriots’ leading receiver, who has 82 catches for 970 yards and four touchdowns, has denied the allegations and that the team will continue to support Diggs during this time.
“The New England Patriots are aware of the accusations that have been made regarding Stefon Diggs. Stefon has informed the organization that he categorically denies the allegations. We support Stefon,” the statement read. “We will continue to gather information and will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and the NFL as necessary. Out of respect for all parties involved, and given that this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”
Diggs, who shares a newborn child with hip-hop star Cardi B, is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 23, two days before the AFC Championship Game.
His attorneys have asked that the date be pushed back to March 2026, after the Super Bowl in February, which would allow Diggs to play if he doesn’t face any NFL punishment.
During his time with the Texans, Diggs wasn’t involved in any off- field incidents or locker-room distractions and was named a team captain by his teammates.
“It’s really cool to see Diggs being in his first year here with us and him getting elected as a captain,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. “I think that’s a special moment and it shows the type of man that he is, the type of leader that he is, and the impact that he’ll have on our team throughout this year.”