Patriots Rumor Diggs: Comeback Player of the Year?

[n1997y]

Diggs required a surgical repair after he tore his ACL on October 24, 2024. Based on experience just being on the field for the start of the season was unusual, let alone performing as well as he has been all season. Statistics about recovery show his comeback is truly exceptional, and gives him a good case for winning the “Comeback Player of the Year” award.

The following quotes give context about his injury and recovery. The first link is an article written by a medical school student who is also a sports journalist. It gives a very thorough in-depth discussion about ACL injuries, repairs, and rehabilitation factors. The first quote is probably the most significant factor in Diggs’ recovery, IMO.

His stats are solid especially considering his age and years in the league, and @Ian’s thread about his effect on the offense highlights the value of his contributions. Seems there’s enough there to justify giving his comeback consideration for the award.

What do you all think?


From Behind Stefon Diggs Miraculous Recovery Before Patriots Training Camp

“I wasn’t worrying about being the same player I was before,” Diggs states. “I’m focused on being better than before.”
[…]
“Even for athletes, it is mental, but at the same time it’s so traumatic of an injury, like some people like, don’t ever be the same, will think about the injury. But like me, I’m like, the worst has already happened. Like, I already tore my s***. So if they corrected it, I got to trust the doctor.”

The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a structure that is critical to stabilizing the knee joint. Tears most commonly occur as noncontact injuries due to a sudden change of direction. The injury has appropriately gotten a reputation as a career-defining setback. 20% of NFL players who tear their ACL never see the field again; those who do return see their productivity decline by about ⅓ compared to their pre-injury selves.
[…]
Position-wise, receivers have some of the most strenuous physical demands on their knees; it makes sense then that their return-to-play rates remain amongst the lowest of all positions.

From Defying the Odds: Stefon Diggs’ Rapid ACL Recovery Through the Lens of Duke Ortho Expertise | Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Diggs defied expectations by returning to full-speed play just nine months after his injury—well ahead of the typical 10.5–12 month recovery timeline for professional athletes.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Zuma]

So Onwenu and Bradbury were perfect then. Lowe will have a better game against the Jete.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Absolutely comeback player of the year. For what Diggs has brought to this team he was an absolute steal. Not only is he producing but he has also elevated the wide receiver group and more importantly the entire team. He is a coaching player and he is helping Drake make that step to being elite. I hope when we get to the playoffs Josh is smart enough to unleash Diggs. This guy is a winner and he will help Drake carry this team deep into the post season.

 

[borg]

Feast or famine....
8 games sub-40 yds receiving.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I don't know who the other contenders would be but Diggs is certainly worthy.

 

[Betterthanmost]

I don't know who the other contenders would be but Diggs is certainly worthy.

Mccaffrey? Or he does not qualify?

 

[Real fan 02]

He's been the best pass rusher on the team all season..

 

[Ring 6]

Feast or famine....
8 games sub-40 yds receiving.

That’s the NFL

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Mccaffrey? Or he does not qualify?

MCF and T. Lawrence are the 2 odds on favs.
Diggs is a very distant 5th........behind Phillip Rivers!
Hutchinson and Dak round out the top 4.

 

[borg]

That’s the NFL

Not in the upper echelon of WRs

Ranking by total yds receiving (# of sub 40 yd games)

1. Smith-Njigba (2)
2. Nacua (1)
3. Pickens (3)
4. Chase (2)
5. St. Brown (1)
6. Collins (2)
7. Olave (2)
8. Flowers (2)
9. Lamb (0)
10. J. Williams (4)
11. Sutton (4)
12. AJ Brown (4)
13. D Smith (4)
14. McMillan (4)
15. Jefferson (4)
16.Waddle (4)
17. Egbuka (5)
18. Robinson (6)
19. Pierce (3)
20. Diggs (8)

 

[TheRainMaker]

He's been a great addition and leader for Maye and the rest of the young WR's. Hopefully he continues to go off in big games as the Pats will need it come January.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Not in the upper echelon of WRs

Ranking by total yds receiving (# of sub 40 yd games)

1. Smith-Njigba (2)
2. Nacua (1)
3. Pickens (3)
4. Chase (2)
5. St. Brown (1)
6. Collins (2)
7. Olave (2)
8. Flowers (2)
9. Lamb (0)
10. J. Williams (4)
11. Sutton (4)
12. AJ Brown (4)
13. D Smith (4)
14. McMillan (4)
15. Jefferson (4)
16.Waddle (4)
17. Egbuka (5)
18. Robinson (6)
19. Pierce (3)
20. Diggs (8)

Let's add some context.
Diggs is 77th in snap count for NFL WRs. He averages 36 snaps a game, which is 20-30 less than almost all the other WRs on your list.
If we use Chase an example, he has 1256 yds on 860 snaps, 1.46 yds/snap.
Diggs has 869 yds on 537 snaps, 1.62 yds/snap.
One would think Diggs' sub 40 yard games would be very similar to the other top WRs if he was playing the same amount of snaps.

 

[n1997y]

I don't know who the other contenders would be but Diggs is certainly worthy.

If Philip Rivers continues to play at least as well as his present level he’s going to be a runaway favorite I expect.

 

[Gumby]

If Philip Rivers continues to play at least as well as his present level & still loses every game played, he’s still going to be a runaway favorite I expect, for sentimental reasons.

FIFY:
Although it probably is a good movie script, I’m not sure I count Rivers‘ return as a true „comeback“. I had always viewed it as a more medical thing award than voluntary un-retirement. But to each his own, and all these things (mvp, probowls etc) are like HS Prom popularity contests.

 

[Lansdowne]

Christian McCaffrey missed 13 games last season due to calf and knee injuries. Came back this season and is having one of his best seasons of his playing career and he’s doing it at an age where RBs typically fall off the cliff. He’s close to another 1000/1000 season like he had in 2019. I love Stefon Diggs and he absolutely is deserving of being in the discussion, but McCaffrey is producing All-Pro numbers in his return from an injury-marred 2024 and he’s got the 49ers back in the playoffs. I have a feeling it’ll be McCaffrey chosen for the honor.

 

[Ring 6]

Not in the upper echelon of WRs

Ranking by total yds receiving (# of sub 40 yd games)

1. Smith-Njigba (2)
2. Nacua (1)
3. Pickens (3)
4. Chase (2)
5. St. Brown (1)
6. Collins (2)
7. Olave (2)
8. Flowers (2)
9. Lamb (0)
10. J. Williams (4)
11. Sutton (4)
12. AJ Brown (4)
13. D Smith (4)
14. McMillan (4)
15. Jefferson (4)
16.Waddle (4)
17. Egbuka (5)
18. Robinson (6)
19. Pierce (3)
20. Diggs (8)

Why would you compare a guy who plays 55% of the snaps to the receivers who get thrown to the most?

How many of those receivers play on a team that has only run 33% of its plays while losing and almost none while losing by 2 scores? You don’t think being behind create more WR yards?
How many of those trans threw less than 25 passes in 5 games and less than 30 in 7?

 

[Huckleberry1]

If Philip Rivers continues to play at least as well as his present level he’s going to be a runaway favorite I expect.

That may be, but giving it to a guy who came in for the last month, and won't win a game would be terrible.

 

[upstater1]

Christian McCaffrey missed 13 games last season due to calf and knee injuries. Came back this season and is having one of his best seasons of his playing career and he’s doing it at an age where RBs typically fall off the cliff. He’s close to another 1000/1000 season like he had in 2019. I love Stefon Diggs and he absolutely is deserving of being in the discussion, but McCaffrey is producing All-Pro numbers in his return from an injury-marred 2024 and he’s got the 49ers back in the playoffs. I have a feeling it’ll be McCaffrey chosen for the honor.

Could it be they take the circumstance of the missed games into account?

AN ACL is very different than nagging muscle injuries. An ACL is much more difficult to overcome