Sep 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs (1) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings employed Stefon Diggs for five years after drafting him in the fifth round out of Maryland. He had some incredible moments in purple, though none will ever be higher than the Minneapolis Miracle. For the first time on Sunday, he’ll return as an opponent.
Stefon Diggs spent four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He played against his former employer just one time. A 33-30 loss at Highmark Stadium on November 13, 2022. You can bet that the always-outspoken Diggs wasn’t thrilled with the result, but it wasn’t a reflection of his performance. The Buffalo wide receiver caught 12-of-16 targets for 128 yards.
After forcing his way out of Buffalo, Diggs is now a member of the Houston Texans. When he enters U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, it will be the first time since he walked off the New Orleans Saints. Diggs played 68 games in that time span, which was a full career for many. You can bet there will be plenty of emotions.
Diggs has been essentially held in check through two games for the Texans. Quarterback C.J. Stroud has targeted him six times in each game. In both outings, he failed to crack 40 yards, although he does have a pair of touchdowns. The Texans have plenty of mouths to feed when it comes to the wide receiver position. Diggs will probably be in the ear of anyone who will listen, angling for additional looks on Sunday.
Despite joining the Vikings as their top cornerback, Stephon Gilmore hasn’t only worked as a shadow player. He will probably see plenty of Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Diggs. However, his ability to shut down the opposition will be on full display, which could go a long way towards stifling Diggs’ production.
The Vikings are seeking a third straight win, and they don’t really care to allow Diggs an opportunity to take that from them. A brief thank-you video prior to kickoff would be customary, but once the ball flies, the niceties are over. Diggs can control the storyline for the weekend if he returns and balls out.
Brian Flores should be locked in on taking away the passing game for a team with a backup running back. That means getting to Stroud, frustrating his wide receivers, and ultimately sending Diggs back to his new home with a loss.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.