The Houston Texans will kickstart the 2024-25 NFL Divisional Round against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Houston didn’t have wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ services in the Wild Card round when they crushed the Los Angeles Chargers.
The star wide receiver was signed this past offseason to increase the quality of Houston’s WR corps. The franchise wanted to provide quarterback C.J. Stroud with quality receivers, but unfortunately, Diggs suffered a season-ending injury in Houston’s Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Let’s take a look at the star WR’s injury and his return to the gridiron.
What Is Stefon Diggs’ Injury?
Diggs’s addition did wonders for the Texans, as they went 6-2 in the first half of the season. His role became more important after Nico Collins picked up a hamstring injury in a 23-20 victory against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5, taking up the mantle as Houston’s WR1.
Unfortunately, the setup didn’t last long, as the Texans took a major blow in Week 8. When cutting on a route, Diggs immediately went to the ground, holding his knee.
Non-contact injuries are often feared most, and those fears were soon confirmed. Diggs underwent further testing that confirmed that he suffered a season-ending torn ACL. As a result, he won’t suit up against the Chiefs in the playoffs.
Before getting hurt, Diggs averaged 5.9 receptions and 62 receiving yards per game. He posted three receiving touchdowns and one rushing score while totaling 47 catches for 496 yards.
The numbers put him on pace for just over 1,000 yards on the season. While impressive, it was a decline from his time with the Bills, where his worst season generated nearly 1,200 yards. That was expected, given his new role behind Collins, but Diggs showed he hadn’t declined as much as his lackluster finish to 2023 suggested.
With both Tank Dell (who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 16) and Diggs on the sidelines, the Texans’ performance declined significantly, going 4-5 down the stretch following Diggs’ injury.
Despite the troubles, Stroud and Co. clinched the AFC South title and earned a ticket to the playoffs. But after beating the Chargers, the Texans will travel to Kansas to take on the reigning Super Bowl champions. With two receivers out of action, it’s going to be a huge task for Houston to crush Mahomes and Co.’s dream of a three-peat.
When Is Diggs Likely To Return?
ACL tears are among the worst kinds of injuries, generally keeping athletes sidelined for 9-12 months — and Diggs’ situation is no different.
The Gaithersburg native showed up to cheer for his teammates only two months after his injury. Collins and Diggs shared a moment on the field before Houston’s game against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.
At 31, Diggs is among the oldest wide receivers to still perform at a high level. But after a significant injury, expecting him to perform at his peak is ambitious.
There is a slight possibility that Diggs might suit up for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Neither the player nor the franchise has provided any concrete updates about his healing process, but his involvement in the offseason workouts should clear the air about his comeback.
How Did the Texans Perform in Diggs’ Absence?
Diggs’ injury certainly spoiled the party for the Texans. After starting the season on a high, they were probably looking to end it with more wins than they actually did.
While Dell and Collins are lethal for explosive plays, shorter routes aren’t their specialty. That’s where Diggs was thriving, providing critical third-down catches to move the chains.
With all three wide receivers missing some time, Houston’s offense has been a shell of its last-season self. In particular, Stroud has taken a major step back, especially with a lackluster offensive line.
By PFN’s QB+ metric, he’s ranked 27th, behind names like Joe Flacco, Mason Rudolph, Drake Maye, Aaron Rodgers, and even the recently-benched Kirk Cousins. Last season, he ranked eighth.