The relationship between the Bills and wide receiver Stefon Diggs has become increasingly awkward and perplexing. Diggs, who hasn’t spoken to reporters recently, previously attributed his reduced production to opponents double-teaming him, a claim contradicted by Chiefs safety Justin Reid. Although players are required to be available to reporters twice a week, it only becomes an issue when the media decides to make it one.
Attempts to inquire about Diggs’s decreased playing time and altered role in the offense during a video conference with coach Sean McDermott were thwarted by the team’s public relations staff. The situation has raised eyebrows, especially since Stefon’s brother Trevon suggested he should leave the Bills after a Monday night loss to the Broncos, which led to the firing of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey.
Diggs, who turned 30 on November 29, has seen a decline in his playing time and is running shorter routes. Speculation about whether Father Time is catching up to him or if he is ready to move on from the Bills has intensified. As the offseason approaches, questions arise about Diggs’s future—will he be released or cut?
From a performance standpoint, the numbers don’t justify his current salary. While Diggs had 100 or more receiving yards in five of the first six games, he has not achieved this since. Despite surpassing 1,000 yards for the season, he recorded fewer than 30 yards in three of the last four games and only one touchdown since November 5.
The looming question is what the future holds for Diggs. Eager to win, he has not come any closer to a Super Bowl with the Bills than he did with the Vikings. Whether he can still achieve success may only become apparent if given the opportunity with another team, such as the Chiefs.
