Diggs ignoring noise, specializing in Payments in reunion

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Week 5 sport between the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills will likely be notable for quite a lot of causes, and whereas eyes will likely be on the matchup between two of the AFC’s finest, they’re going to even be on large receiver Stefon Diggs as he performs in opposition to his former staff.

Diggs, who was traded to the Texans on April 3, stated he is not making this sport larger than some other.

“Block out the noise. Lots of different persons are going to really feel away or have so much to say about X,Y, Z, and I do not thoughts. I am not mad at it,” Diggs stated Wednesday. “Simply attempting to go 1-0. Clearly, they seem to be a good staff. They’ve plenty of guys that may fly round on the protection. However they seem to be a actually good staff. So, I look ahead to 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 stated he views the reunion with Diggs equally, noting such conferences aren’t out of the peculiar within the NFL.

“It isn’t essentially the most uncommon factor,” Allen stated. “I believe this factor occurs now and again, and you realize, I’ve received plenty 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 similar 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 deal with what we received occurring on this constructing.”

Allen stated they have not had a lot interplay for the reason that commerce, however famous “that is common for some other [former] teammates.” The quarterback stated he’ll look to say howdy to the receiver Sunday.

“Hopefully, yeah, I am going to say what’s up, and hopefully the favor’s returned,” Allen stated. “I am positive 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 by means of the primary 4 video games.

“It is simple to get a foul rap. Phrase travels quick, however while you get to a spot and folks get to know you, they type 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 plenty of optimistic stuff. I simply take it with a grain of salt. I received massive 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 charge in his profession (2018).

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud stated the surface notion of Diggs as a diva was a “dangerous rap by the media” and that “he is been nothing however wonderful to this staff and to his teammates.”

“He is helped me out a ton as you possibly can see, we’re clicking an increasing number of,” Stroud stated. “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 foul rap. Phrase travels quick, however while you get to a spot and folks get to know you, they type of get to gauge you for their very own private and their interplay with you,” Diggs stated. “And issues often flip the nook once I get some place else. There’s often smiles and plenty of optimistic stuff. I simply take it with a grain of salt. I received massive shoulders.”

So far as defending a participant they’re overly accustomed to, the Payments stated they’re nicely conscious of the problem Diggs and the Texans will current.

“Very gifted soccer staff, very gifted on this case offensively, extraordinarily gifted on the perimeter of their offense with the receiving corps you talked about, and it is actually onerous 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 stated. “So, we can have our work reduce 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.