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Bills: Sean McDermott “Very Concerned” About Stefon Diggs Missing Mandatory Minicamp

By Hunter Haas

Jan 22, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) during warmups before an AFC divisional round game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) during warmups before an AFC divisional round game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sean McDermott spoke Tuesday morning about Stefon Diggs being absent from mandatory minicamp. Will the Bills resolve this situation or is a trade on the horizon?

The Bills are fresh off a fourth straight postseason berth in 2022 but have yet to get over the hump by winning the AFC. Buffalo’s offense, led by superstar quarterback Josh Allen, is the driving force of the squad. Allen’s No. 1 wideout, Stefon Diggs, was acquired via trade during the 2020 NFL offseason, coinciding with the signal-callers emergence in the league.

Diggs has averaged 113 receptions, 1,397 yards, and nearly 10 touchdowns a season since arriving in Buffalo. His leadership on and off the field, coupled with elite physical talent, consistently has the gifted receiver near the top of the ranks at his position.

Although the duo is as good as any QB-WR tandem in the league, reports coming from the Bills’ mandatory minicamp put a cloud over the team. Head coach Sean McDermott spoke Tuesday about Diggs being absent from the workout session, expressing his concern about the situation.

Bills: Sean McDermott “Very Concerned” About Stefon Diggs Missing Mandatory Minicamp

McDermott stated in his press conference this morning, “Stef is not here. Everybody else is at the current time”. After a follow-up about Diggs’ absence, the seventh-year head coach did not mince words. “Very concerned, very concerned.”

Question No. 3 asked McDermott more in-depth, but this is when he shut down any further inquiries. “I’m not gonna get into it. And listen, I respect everyone’s questions and what they want to know about our team. Right now, I’m just not gonna get into that,” said McDermott.

The man in question, Stefon Diggs, is slated to make $24.4 million in 2023 after a sizable restructure in March. His lofty signing bonus, and the dead cap it brings, make Diggs an unlikely trade candidate. This all goes without mentioning his irreplaceable impact on the entire Bills locker room.

Diggs has held out before, so perhaps it should not be a surprise. However, given his already lucrative contract and target share in the offense, the timing is quite puzzling. More details should come out as the holdout continues (or ends). At the very least, this situation is worth keeping an eye on in Buffalo.

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