It’s that time of the year where the NFL teams assess the status of injured players ahead of the 2025 season. The New England Patriots just placed many players, including Drake Maye‘s weapons, on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Of course, what fans really want to know is if Stefon Diggs is among those names.
Thankfully for the Patriots, Diggs was not placed on the PUP list, meaning he is progressing really well in his rehab from an ACL tear last season. While it’s still unclear if he will be able to play on Week 1, not being on the PUP list is great news for a team that’s desperate to have a certified first option at wide receiver.
While quarterback Drake Maye must be ecstatic at the possibility of having Stefon Diggs early in the season, other weapons might not be there. Names like wide receiver Mack Hollins and tight end Austin Hooper were placed on the PUP list as well as offensive tackle Vederian Lowe.
Drake Maye was a breath of fresh air despite not having top-tier weapons
The Patriots drafted Maye last season, but he wasn’t the starter as veteran Jacoby Brissett played the first five weeks of the NFL season. A 1-4 record made the coaching staff shift gears. Maye had a 3-9 record but was much more accurate, and somehow moved the offense much better.
Maye had 2,276 yards and 15 passing touchdowns. He impressed so much that he went to the Pro Bowl. This gave the Patriots hope for the future. However, he needs help and Diggs might be the difference-maker. Last year, no player on the roster surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards. That says a lot about the Pats’ struggles last season.
Is Stefon Diggs still an elite weapon?
Diggs is one of the biggest names in the NFL at the wide receiver position. However, it’s not a secret that his prime might be a thing of the past. He is 31 years old coming off an ACL tear and he wasn’t setting the NFL on fire last year.
Diggs’ strengths are his skills of separation and route running. Those will fade with age and injuries. Now, it seems like his rehab is going pretty well. If Diggs can be as explosive on his release as before, he will be very valuable. If not, well, that will be a problem as Maye won’t have the weapon that he was promised.