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Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs was reportedly “detrimental” to the atmosphere of the team as well as quarterback Josh Allen.
“The coach and GM [Brandon Beane] had the foresight to get rid of the receiver [Stefon Diggs] because they knew it was detrimental to the quarterback and the atmosphere,” an opposing coach told Mike Sando of The Athletic. “All of sudden, they are playing with Curtis Samuel and draft picks and just whatever, and the quarterback is playing good. And then they add Amari Cooper.”
Diggs made Pro Bowl appearances in each season with the Bills from 2020-23 before he was traded to the Houston Texans in April.
While the veteran receiver may have negatively impacted the locker room during his time in Buffalo, Allen praised his former teammate ahead of a meeting between the two squads in Week 5 that ended with a 23-20 Houston victory.
“I’ve got a lot of love for [Diggs]. I still do,” Allen said, per Alec White of the team’s official website. “The things that he did for me in my career, and the things that he did in a Buffalo Bill uniform won’t be forgotten anytime soon, especially from me.”
Diggs recorded 496 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his first eight games with the Texans before suffering a season-ending torn ACL on Oct. 27.
Allen has also thrived despite the absence of his former No. 1 wideout, racking up 18 touchdown passes compared to five interceptions while leading the Bills to a 9-2 record.
Buffalo signed Curtis Samuel in free agency to help mitigate the loss of Diggs before trading for five-time Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper on Oct. 15.
Cooper missed two games due to a wrist injury but returned to catch two passes for 55 yards during a 30-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.
The Bills were immensely successful with Diggs despite the reported team environment that he helped cultivate, but Buffalo has remained a playoff contender in the AFC without him.
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