Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs has raised eyebrows with a recent decline in production, prompting Bills insider Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News to investigate the matter.
In the Week 16 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers, Diggs’ performance was notably subdued, recording just five catches for 29 yards. That marked the third consecutive game where Diggs finished with less than 50 receiving yards, and he hasn’t surpassed the 100-yard mark since Week 6 on October 15.
Skurski highlighted an additional concern, pointing out that Diggs was on the field for only 33 of the Bills’ 55 offensive snaps during the Chargers game, equating to a mere 60 percent of playing time. That seems puzzling for a player of Diggs’ caliber, who typically functions as the team’s primary wide receiver.
Bills’ Reporter Questions The Situation With Stefon Diggs
To be fair, Diggs did sustain an injury on the first play of the game against the Chargers and received evaluation from the team’s medical staff before returning to play. Could this injury have influenced Diggs’ reduced snap count?
When questioned about it after the game, Bills head coach Sean McDermott seemed nonchalant, stating, “Not that I’m aware of. I haven’t discussed that with (head athletic trainer) Nate (Breske). Not that I’m aware of, but I understand that he was in and out maybe more than normal.”
The overall season statistics for Diggs are commendable, with 96 receptions for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns. This marks his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season.
Despite the recent performance dip, Diggs remains a pivotal part of the team, and at 9-6, the Bills are gearing up to face the New England Patriots in their Week 17 game. As they head into the final stretch of the regular season, questions linger about Diggs’ recent struggles and whether they will impact the team’s playoff aspirations.
Make sure to tune in next week when the Bills take on the Patriots. New England has been playing much better of late and Buffalo needs to keep winning to get into the playoffs. You can watch the game at 1:00 p.m. EST on Sunday on CBS.