The addition of Stefon Diggs hasn’t just been beneficial to Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud since the start of the offseason.
Ask John Metchie about Diggs’ work with his following practice while running drills.
Ask Tank Dell about the little quick hits the four-time Pro Bowler will deliver during the transition periods between drills.
Bring up coverage in team drills to Derek Stingley Jr. and he’ll explain how beneficial it’s been to face the league leader in catches since his time in Buffalo.
Just an All-pro player talking to a future All-pro player pic.twitter.com/iBpJKVEbzR
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) July 19, 2024
The Texans traded for Diggs this offseason to elevate Stroud’s status and a passing attack that ranked seventh overall in 2023, but he’s been just as helpful to the rest of the roster three days into training camp.
“He wants us to be great, he knows what we’re capable of, and he knows we have a long career ahead of ourselves,” Dell said on Friday following practice. “He’s just telling us what we can expect and how to move and things like that.”
Head coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio previously mentioned the value of having a veteran like Diggs in the locker room to serve a person to “teach more tricks of the trade that maybe coaches don’t know.” He’s a six-time 1,000-yard receiver who’s totaled at least 102 receptions with three different quarterbacks in five of the last six years.
That offers value in ways outside of film study. Dell, who last season caught 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games, said oftentimes he doesn’t even have to ask Diggs for advice since he’s already planning on speaking.
Stefon Diggs 🤝🏾 Drake pic.twitter.com/v0BaT2AzQb
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) July 20, 2024
“We always ask him questions, or we don’t even have to ask questions, he’ll just come up and start talking about stuff,” Dell said. “Talking about stuff he’s seen when he was with the Vikings or he’s seen when he was in Buffalo, and he’s just giving us game. He gives us free game all the time, that’s all he do.”
The Texans hope Dell can build off his promising rookie campaign even with a newcomer into the fold. The same goes for Metchie, who was diagnosed with leukemia as a rookie but has worked way back to full speed in two offseasons.
With a lot of attention being paid to WR Stefon Diggs’s presence at Houston Texans training camp, I asked teammate Nico Collins how good it feels to have Tank Dell back on the field. Dell missed a significant amount of time last season due to a lower body injury. #Texans #Sarge pic.twitter.com/ZyVf6swLEl
— BIG SARGE MEDIA LLC (@BigSargeSportz) July 21, 2024
Nico Collins, the Texans’ leading receiver from their AFC South run last year, might need the least amount of training after totaling over 1,2000 yards and eight touchdowns, but advice is welcomed. It’s encouraged, especially given Diggs’ pedigree in the pros since being drafted out of Maryland in 2015.
Collins, drafted in the third round out of Michigan in 2021, was watching his 31-year-old teammate’s tape before Friday night games back in Alabama.
“I was in middle school, he was in Minnesota making plays,” Collins said. “So, it’s crazy that he’s part of the squad, part of the team, and a vet in the room. [He’s] somebody I can lean on.”
Every day after practice, Diggs has spent time working on not only drills but also relationships with teammates. One day, he and Stingley worked mirror drills in coverage.
Another day, Metchie was taken to the side to show a proper technique to get cut back in and avoid the defensive back.
.@stefondiggs giving John Metchie III some pointers after practice 🤝
(via @HoustonTexans) pic.twitter.com/QQ3fOV8Xbq
— NFL (@NFL) July 18, 2024
On Saturday, Stroud ended practice on a sour note, tossing an interception and finishing his final three drives in 11-on-11 with an incompletion. Diggs waited to run routes to make up for mishaps during live drills following sprints.
Even offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has taken notice of Diggs’ eagerness to see the team improve.
“He wants to be the best he can possibly be,” Slowik said. “He wants to be coached. He wants to help teach young guys. He wants to be a leader.
“That’s the number one thing that jumps out to me is he’s one of us.
