ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Week 5 recreation between the Houston Texans and Buffalo Payments might be notable for a wide range of causes, and whereas eyes might be on the matchup between two of the AFC’s finest, they will even be on broad receiver Stefon Diggs as he performs in opposition to his former staff.
Diggs, who was traded to the Texans on April 3, mentioned he is not making this recreation larger than every other.
“Block out the noise. A variety of different individuals are going to really feel away or have loads to say about X,Y, Z, and I do not thoughts. I am not mad at it,” Diggs mentioned Wednesday. “Simply attempting to go 1-0. Clearly, they are a good staff. They’ve a number of guys that may fly round on the protection. However they are a actually good staff. So, I stay up for it.”
Diggs was with the Payments for 4 seasons after they acquired him in a commerce with the Minnesota Vikings. Throughout that point, he was named a primary staff All-Professional (2020) and was a three-time captain. With Josh Allen, he had essentially the most receptions (445) and receiving yards (5,372) and was tied for essentially the most receiving touchdowns (37) of any quarterback-receiver duo throughout that stretch. He ranks fourth in Payments historical past in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Allen mentioned he views the reunion with Diggs equally, noting such conferences aren’t out of the atypical within the NFL.
“It is not essentially the most uncommon factor,” Allen mentioned. “I believe this factor occurs sometimes, and you already know, I’ve received a number of love for him. I nonetheless do. The issues that he did for me in my profession, and the issues that he did in a Buffalo Invoice uniform will not be forgotten anytime quickly, particularly from me. So, that is how I take a look at it.
“On the identical time, going into 12 months 7, I perceive the enterprise, and the side of what this league is, and once more, I am simply attempting to give attention to what we received occurring on this constructing.”
Allen mentioned they have not had a lot interplay because the commerce, however famous “that is common for every other [former] teammates.” The quarterback mentioned he’ll look to say good day to the receiver Sunday.
“Hopefully, yeah, I will say what’s up, and hopefully the favor’s returned,” Allen mentioned. “I am certain will probably be, so we’ll see.”
Each the Payments and Texans are 3-1 heading into the matchup in Houston. Allen is off to a sizzling begin, main the league in whole QBR (82). And for the primary time in his profession, he hasn’t thrown an interception via the primary 4 video games.
“It is simple to get a nasty rap. Phrase travels quick, however whenever you get to a spot and folks get to know you, they form of get to gauge you for their very own private and their interplay with you. And issues often flip the nook once I get some place else. There’s often smiles and a number of optimistic stuff. I simply take it with a grain of salt. I received large shoulders.”
Stefon Diggs
Diggs, 30, has 25 receptions for 233 yards (second on the staff behind Nico Collins) and two touchdowns (tied with Collins) with the Texans. Of his receiving yards, 41.6% have come after the catch, which is on tempo to be the second-highest fee in his profession (2018).
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud mentioned the surface notion of Diggs as a diva was a “unhealthy rap by the media” and that “he is been nothing however superb to this staff and to his teammates.”
“He is helped me out a ton as you’ll be able to see, we’re clicking increasingly more,” Stroud mentioned. “He is lastly having enjoyable enjoying the sport.”
In response to a query about Stroud’s feedback, Diggs shared his perspective on what’s been working in Houston.
“It is simple to get a nasty rap. Phrase travels quick, however whenever you get to a spot and folks get to know you, they form of get to gauge you for their very own private and their interplay with you,” Diggs mentioned. “And issues often flip the nook once I get some place else. There’s often smiles and a number of optimistic stuff. I simply take it with a grain of salt. I received large shoulders.”
So far as defending a participant they’re overly conversant in, the Payments mentioned they’re properly conscious of the problem Diggs and the Texans will current.
“Very proficient soccer staff, very proficient on this case offensively, extraordinarily proficient on the perimeter of their offense with the receiving corps you talked about, and it is actually exhausting to cease all of them, proper, as a result of you do not have sufficient guys to double staff all of them there,” Payments coach Sean McDermott mentioned. “So, we may have our work minimize out for us. Stef’s enjoying at a excessive stage, he was a very good participant right here and aggressive, as you guys know, and he is extremely aggressive on tape, as I watch, and enjoying at a excessive stage.”
ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime contributed to this report.
