Stefon Diggs‘ absence from the first week of Patriots voluntary OTAs didn’t raise any eyebrows. However, the wideout quickly commanded attention when a video showed him flashing an “unidentified pink substance” while partying on a boat. New coach Mike Vrabel quickly cited making “great decisions,” and there was later speculation that the Patriots could consider ending the partnership before it truly begins.

Well, it appears the two sides have taken a step in the right direction, as Diggs was present during today’s portion of Patriots practice, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Even more notably, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says the Patriots have no plans to cut their free agent acquisition.

Rapoport provided a bit more insight, noting that Diggs presence at today’s voluntary practice “felt about as mandatory” as it could possibly be. Rapoport hints that Diggs addressed his new teammates, and Reiss notes that the receiver was later spotted catching passes from Drake Maye.

It’s been a bit of a rocky start for the receiver’s stint in New England. While the off-field issues commanded the headlines, there was some speculation that Vrabel may have been more perturbed by his receiver’s absence from practices. Not only is the receiver joining a new team with a new coaching staff, he’s also continuing to rehab a torn ACL suffered during his lone season in Houston.

While Boston radio pundits may be licking their chops at the potential drama, it sounds like those in the building are downplaying the whole story. “New” OC Josh McDaniels addressed Diggs’ recent absence, noting that the veteran has still been preparing for the upcoming season even if he wasn’t on the practice field.

“I know he’s staying up on the information and material and there’s so many things and opportunities for us to teach all our guys going forward — between the rest of the practices in the spring and going into the summer and the many days we have before we actually kick the ball off in September,” McDaniels said (via Reiss). “I’m not concerned about Stef in that regard.”

A significant portion of Diggs’ three-year, $69MM contract is based on roster and workout bonuses, and his guarantees are still contingent on Diggs eventually passing a physical (which he still hasn’t done). In other words, the Patriots do have a bit of wiggle room if they decided to bail on the Diggs experience. For the time being, it sounds like the organization isn’t considering that drastic route.

We’ve seen relative silence from the NFL league office and the Patriots about a video that shows recent free agent signing Stefon Diggs holding what appears to be a pink substance while on a boat with a number of women.

While the time and date of the video are currently unknown and the substance has yet to be identified, Scott Zolak of 98.5 The Sports Hub ventured that the controversial video could lead to the wide receiver’s exit from the team, per Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston. Off of this speculation, Mike Florio of NBC Sports reportedly examined Diggs’ contract to see exactly what recourse New England would have if it intended to cut Diggs without absorbing the brunt of the recently signed deal.

Florio posits that the Patriots may have a few avenues that they could address through clauses in his contract. Firstly, any guarantees are contingent on Diggs passing a physical. Considering that Diggs has not been participating in offseason activities because of the torn ACL that ended his 2024 campaign, it stands to reason that he has not been physically cleared yet. If the team physician refuses to clear him, the team could avoid paying a majority of the guarantees in the deal.

Another clause focuses on pre-existing conditions and could help the team to avoid paying $10.6MM of the remaining $12.6MM of guarantees following the first $4MM installation of Diggs’ signing bonus. Either of those two decisions could be challenged with a grievance by Diggs, something the team has seen before when they released Antonio Brown. They had refused to pay Brown $9MM of his signing bonus and ended up settling the grievance with $5MM. Florio suggests that the team could hope for a similar result with Diggs and potentially could avoid paying the majority of the costs in question.

Lastly, Florio points to two areas of the contract that deal with the default language of the contract and a provision stipulating that Diggs would not “participate…in any conduct or activity that is illegal, unlawful, or immoral.” With a league suspension unlikely, it would be hard to prove that Diggs defaulted, and the Patriots would also have to prove what the pink powder is in order to determine if Diggs’ activity was illegal. That doesn’t appear to be likely either.

Ultimately, the team may just dismiss the situation altogether and hold on to their new receiver. If they do decide, though, that they’d like to move on, it appears that there are some avenues New England could explore.

A video of Stefon Diggs went viral earlier this week, as the Patriots wide receiver was recorded flashing an “unidentified pink substance” (per ESPN’s Mike Reiss) while surrounded by women on a yacht. That pink substance has led to plenty of online speculation, and new head coach Mike Vrabel was forced to address the situation today.

“It’s something we’re aware of and obviously we want to make great decisions on and off the field,” Vrabel said (via Reiss). “… Any conversations that I’ve had with Stefon will remain between him and I and the club.”

Vrabel is sticking with his Belichickian upbringing and not revealing too much, but it is still notable that the head coach is already facing off-the-field questions about the headline-stealing receiver. The Patriots inked Diggs to a three-year, $69MM deal this offseason as the wideout continues to recover from his torn ACL.

While the veteran was spotted at a voluntary practice last week, he notably wasn’t in attendance for the start of New England’s OTAs. While an absence from voluntary practices isn’t problematic, this surely some increasing optic issues when taking into account the recent viral video. Vrabel acknowledged that he’s been in contact with Diggs this week, although the coach also admitted that he’s spoken with every player on his roster.

Patriots receivers finished the 2024 campaign last in the NFL with only 1,723 receiving yards. If Diggs is able to even return to his 2023 form (when he finished with 1,188 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns), that’d be a huge boon for the Patriots offense. Prior to suffering his season-ending injury in 2024, Diggs’ lone season in Houston saw him haul in 47 catches for 496 yards and three scores.

“The timelines, and the prognosis, we’re working hard to get him back and be ready to go. When he’s here, we’ll coach him and have him ready to go,” Vrabel said of his WR’s recovery.

While the Patriots lack top-end receiver talent, they do have some solid depth, and there should be plenty of competition for the spots this summer. Diggs is a shoo-in to make the squad, and Reiss believes free agent acquisition Mack Hollins, third-year slot receiver DeMario Douglas, and third-round rookie Kyle Williams are also safe. That means the likes of Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, and 2024 draft picks Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round) are competing for the remaining spots on the roster.

MARCH 24: Confirming a sense of urgency does not appear to be in place for either side in this situation, ESPN’s Mike Reiss adds that Diggs is ahead of schedule in his ACL rehab. That factor could help him land a deal relatively soon, but it remains to be seen if one will send him to New England.

MARCH 21: Stefon Diggs is one of several veteran wideouts still on the market in the second wave of free agency. He visited the Patriots yesterday, but a deal should not immediately be expected at this point.

Nothing is imminent in the case of Diggs and New England, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes. Team and player will remain in contact with one another, though, he adds. This week’s summit included a physical, something which will no doubt be key in determining the Patriots’ willingness to make a commitment for 2025.

Adding in the passing game has long been seen as a priority, although New England’s many moves to date in free agency have not yielded a major signing on that front. The team has re-signed tight end Austin Hooper and brought in receiver Mack Hollins, but room exists for a move at the top of the WR depth chart. Diggs posted six straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2018-23, but to little surprise his Bills tenure came to an end last offseason. His trade to Houston was followed by a contract restructure which made him a free agent in 2025, but things did not go according to plan during his debut campaign.

Diggs suffered an ACL tear midway through the 2024 season, an injury which hindered his market value and left Houston without a key member of the WR room. His absence was later compounded by Tank Dell‘s season-ending injury, one which has 2025 availability in doubt. The Texans already have Nico Collins attached to a lucrative long-term deal, but general manager Nick Caserio said last month the team would consider keeping Diggs in the fold on a new contract. That could still take place depending on how his market unfolds over the coming days.

New England was a key suitor for Calvin Ridley in free agency last spring, and strong interest was known on both the Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin fronts this time around. Without any of those pass-catchers in place, the Patriots have Hollins along with a group of incumbents led by Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker on the depth chart as things stand. Diggs, 31, would add a notable track record of production to that group, although questions about his upside at this point in his career will linger in the wake of his ACL tear.

The four-time Pro Bowler averaged 62 yards per game in eight Texans contests last season, scoring three touchdowns before he went down. Expectations would be relatively high upon arrival in New England (on what could very well be a short-term deal given his health situation), but at this point a pact keeping him in Houston or sending him to a different team is still in the cards.

MARCH 20: Diggs’ visit will include a physical Thursday, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds. The accomplished wideout dined with Patriots staffers Wednesday night and will hear an official pitch during meetings at the team’s facility today. Diggs joins Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen and Tyler Lockett as notable 30-something wideouts still on the market.

MARCH 19: While the Patriots reportedly had grand plans to add at WR this offseason, the team has been relatively quiet when it comes to the position. That could soon change, as the organization is hosting one of the biggest names remaining on the market. According to Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots are hosting free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs on a visit.

After losing out on the Calvin Ridley sweepstakes last offseason, the Patriots seemed motivated to provide Drake Maye with a notable pass catcher for the 2025 campaign. The team was a known suitor for Tee Higgins before the WR ended up sticking with the Bengals, and despite the Patriots offering Chris Godwin a lucrative contract, the veteran took less money to stick with the Buccaneers.

So, while New England has made headlines with a number of moves on the defensive side of the ball, the team has been relatively quiet on offense, at least when it comes to the skills positions. The team’s most notable signing was Mack Hollins, who was added to a receivers depth chart that still includes the likes of Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker. None of those options have proven themselves as a definitive WR1 (or maybe even a WR2), so it’s not a huge surprise that the Patriots remain in the market for receiver help.

The team’s search has brought them to a familiar face in Diggs. Thanks particularly to his time in Buffalo, Diggs has compiled 779 career receiving yards against the Patriots, his second-highest total against any one team (the Packers lead the list). While the receiver’s numbers tailed off a bit during his final season with the Bills, he still finished the with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his four seasons.

Diggs was traded to the Texans last season and only saw a slight drop off despite a deeper depth chart. Through eight games, the 31-year-old hauled in 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns. Of course, his season ended in late October thanks to a torn ACL.

That injury likely clouded his current free agency, as it’s been relatively quiet on the Diggs front. We heard the Texans were interested in retaining their former acquisition, but the team has since added the likes of Christian Kirk and Justin Watson. Otherwise, the Patriots represent the first known suitor for Diggs.

With the wideout looking to rehabilitate his value and the Patriots desperate for receiver help, this could be a natural pairing. While New England would likely have to wait a bit for Diggs to return from his injury, the veteran’s addition would still be a boon for Maye and the Patriots offense.