The Houston Texans landed veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs last offseason to provide quarterback C.J. Stroud with quality receivers. The blockbuster trade from the Buffalo Bills solidified the Texans’ receiving corps, who already had Nico Collins and Tank Dell on their roster.
The 31-year-old’s addition did wonders for Houston as they went 6-2 in the first half. Diggs’ role in the team became more important after Collins picked up a hamstring injury in a 23-20 victory against Buffalo in Week 5, taking up the mantle as Houston’s WR1.
Unfortunately, the setup didn’t last long, as Diggs suffered a season-ending injury in Week 8. With two wide receivers 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, starting with a matchup at home against the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card Weekend.
Yet, even though Collins returned to action after five weeks, Diggs won’t be available for the rest of the season.
What Happened to Stefon Diggs?
The Texans gave up a second-round pick for Diggs, who was doing a great job in the absence of Collins. However, the win against the Indianapolis Colts came with bad news for Houston.
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.
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 he showed he hadn’t declined as much as his lackluster finish to 2023 suggested.
When Can the Texans Expect Diggs to Return?
ACL tears are among the worst kinds of injuries, generally keeping athletes sidelined for 9-12 months. Diggs’s situation is no different story.
The Gaithersburg native showed up to cheer for his teammates only two months after his injury. Collins and Diggs had a moment on the field before the game.
At 31, Diggs is among the oldest wide receivers to still perform at a high level. 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. His involvement in the offseason workouts might 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.
Even from a counting-stat perspective, Stroud’s 219.2 passing yards per game are a far cry from last season’s (league-leading) 273.9. The eye test also confirms this data point, with a majority of the Texans’ offense coming through the ground and Joe Mixon.
The former Cincinnati Bengals running back is averaging his most yards per game (72.6) since 2021. With 11 scores on the ground, Mixon has been invaluable for Houston throughout this season.
The Texans would look forward to getting back to their A-game as they begin their postseason at home on Saturday.