Mike Vrabel shrugs off idea that Stefon Diggs won’t play Week 1

Stefon Diggs precipitated a little bit of a stir Wednesday when he informed The Athletic’s Dianna Russini that he wasn’t sure if he’d be ready for Week 1 of the NFL season.

On Thursday, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel shortly shut down that concept, all however confirming that — barring unforseen setbacks — Diggs will certainly be a Week 1 starter after tearing his ACL final season.

Patriots beat author Phil Perry requested Vrabel about Diggs’s feedback, and the response was jeering.

“Did you actually consider that, Phil? I imply, you’re a wise man,” Vrabel stated. “I don’t know the place you went to highschool — it wasn’t Ohio State. However like, do you actually consider that? Do you actually consider that, Phil, or are you simply attempting to bait me into one thing?”

Vrabel elaborated, and though he was cautious to not say for sure that Diggs can be good to go, he definitely expects it.

“I don’t know the context wherein he stated it, however you’d have to assist me. I imply, he’s been out right here nearly daily,” Vrabel stated. “I’m excited of the place he’s at and we’ll see when Week 1 comes, however he’s going to observe in the present day. Hopefully he helps us within the crimson zone, however we will’t predict the long run about Week 1. I simply know he’s going to be on the market in the present day, and he works exhausting and he cares, that are two necessary issues.”

Since Diggs arrived in Foxborough for offseason exercises, it appeared from an outdoor perspective that he was effectively forward of schedule on his rehab. His cuts had been crisp sufficient throughout OTAs for him to be one of many quickest broad receivers on the Patriots regardless of his harm.

On prime of that, Diggs by no means carried an harm designation into coaching camp. Whereas a few of his friends discovered their solution to the PUP and NFI lists, Diggs didn’t miss any time. He didn’t play within the Patriots first preseason recreation — seemingly both a precautionary transfer or because of his veteran standing, or each — however he hasn’t missed a coaching camp observe and has been current throughout reside joint practices.

So though Diggs could have been coy about his standing as of Wednesday, all indicators proceed to level to the previous Professional Bowl receiver making his means on the sphere for New England’s season opener on Sept. 7.

His presence can be a welcome addition to New England’s offense, which hasn’t had a Professional Bowl broad receiver (aside from core particular teamer Matthew Slater) since Wes Welker’s last bid in 2012.