The New England Patriots needed a proven veteran to help their offense and be a leader in the locker room. Adding wide receiver Stefon Diggs, given his history of questionable behavior, was a major gamble.

So far, it has paid off. Diggs has looked like a much more mature person and player this season. He’s put the team first, and his impact on and off the field has been noticeable.

He recently revealed that he’s been playing with a broken finger, and quarterback Drake Maye got honest about Diggs playing through injury.

“Stef’s probably dramatic. Every time he gets hit, he lays on the ground and acts like he just got hit by an 18-wheeler or something, so — no, he’s awesome. He’s awesome, he’s got great hands. One of the best hands I’ve seen. He’s effortless catching it. When the lights are on, he’s got some of the best hands in the league,” Maye said.

Drake Maye when asked what he thought about Stefon Diggs playing through what the receiver called a broken finger:

“Stef’s probably dramatic. Every time he gets hit, he lays on the ground and acts like he just got hit by an 18-wheeler or something, so – no, he’s awesome… 😂… pic.twitter.com/lufwNQliIh

— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) November 19, 2025

Overreactions or not, the fact is that Diggs has been even better than hoped with the Patriots. Despite missing a chunk of last season with the Buffalo Bills, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

In 11 games, he has 59 receptions on 72 targets for 659 yards and three touchdowns. While his average per game might not pop out, he’s had some big outings and, more importantly, he hasn’t complained when he hasn’t been the primary pass catcher.

The Patriots are rolling heading into their Week 12 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. New England looks like a legitimate candidate to win the AFC.

Of course, it will be interesting to see how Diggs deals with the situation if things aren’t going his way. But so far, so good for the veteran and the Patriots.

NEXT:  Stefon Diggs Says He’s Playing With Injury