INDIANAPOLIS -- Stefon Diggs broke free over the middle, creating enough space for his pathway to the end zone as Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud hit him with a sharp pass and timing that was on point for the Texans' first touchdown of the season.
The Pro Bowl wide receiver, acquired in an offseason trade from the Buffalo Bills, provided the go-ahead touchdown for the Texans in the season-opener against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in the second quarter. His nine-yard catch pushed the Texans in front, 12-7, on a drive set up by Stroud’s 55-yard jump ball to wide receiver Nico Collins as he leapt over defensive backs JuJu Brents and Nick Cross.
Hours after playing catch with Kimberly Stroud’s mother and catching a short, accurate throw from her, Diggs was counted on in crucial moments by her son, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season. Diggs caught all six passes thrown to him on six targets, finishing with two touchdown catches in his regular-season debut with the defending AFC South champions as they earned a 29-27 road victory. Diggs, wearing the No. 1 jersey he negotiated away from safety Jimmie Ward for $100,000, and new running back Joe Mixon accounted for all three of the Texans’ touchdowns.
“It’s gratifying from the receiver position,” Diggs said. “From training camp on, working my tail off trying to be a captain and trying to lead the team, I’m alongside guys that do it as well, like Joe and C.J. In those moments when they lean on you it’s because they trust you in those big moments. Fourth down, money on the floor, trust No. 1.”
Late in the game on fourth-and-goal at the Colts’ two-yard line, Stroud rolled out and hit Diggs on a quick out pattern in the corner of the end zone.
The timing was clicking, even though this was just their first regular-season game playing together.
Diggs and Stroud already have outstanding chemistry, and the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is even more potent in game situations than practices.
“No, he is way better than that,” Diggs said after the game. “Practice, you see glimpses of it and he’s showing a little bit of emotion. He’ll get on your behind a little bit, but I’m telling you he’s the real deal. C.J. makes it easy to be a receiver. We are still building that trust. A couple times I ran across the middle. And I don’t know what you hear, but I’m going to trust you. I’m just happy.”
Diggs also eclipsed the 10,000 career receiving yard milestone on his first regular-season catch with the Texans.
The Diggs acquisition is already paying dividends, as is Mixon, who rushed for 159 yards and one score on 30 carries in his first game after being added in an offseason trade from the Cincinnati Bengals and being signed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension.
“I mean that’s everything for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Those guys can step up and make plays, no matter what the situation is. When you can count on those guys to make plays, it’s huge for our team, not just the offense, but what they give our entire team. Joe running the ball, the energy that he provided to our entire team, it was outstanding.
“They’re extremely tough football players. They love football and they play the game the right way. It jumps off the tape. And they’re great people. Adding those guys to our team, it’s just evident – like with Stef becoming a captain, with Joe also being on the leadership council. Those guys were leaders as well. So, it’s just very valuable, not only on the field, but off the field.”
Photo: Michael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Diggs was named a team captain last week in balloting from his teammates.
Diggs has warmly reflected on his happiness to be in Houston, dismissing narratives about him from previous NFL stops and emphasizing a family connection with Stroud, his quarterback and friend.
The Pro Bowl wide receiver, in his most expansive comments since joining the Texans in an offseason trade from the Bills, touched on a lot of areas surrounding him, even his love for fashion and his personal shoe brand with Asics he’s been sharing with his new teammates and friends across the nation.
Days before his first regular-season game with the Texans on the road, it was obvious that Diggs and the Texans are in a strong, comfortable space together. That isn’t a surprise, though, given how welcoming his reception has been since joining the Texans. And, now, they’re off to a fast start together.
“You know, I’m happy to get that first one,” Diggs said. “Nothing like opening the season with a W. Really looking forward to getting back in the lab and seeing what we did wrong. Felt like we played a little sloppy, we’re a lot better as an offense. I was just happy for the guys. Obviously, Joe Mixon was all-world. Nico Collins, all-word and doing his job ensuring that we really got that kind of offense that can really go anywhere. Guys playing at a high level, across the board is a recipe for success, especially from the offensive position. I think it was a lot more meat on the bone for us.”
While Diggs excelled at hitting angles, Mixon was close to multiple breakaway runs with one man left to beat. He was punishing the Colts’ defense, which has a strong reputation for its front seven personnel led by DeForest Buckner. Mixon missed the majority of the preseason with a quadriceps injury, but didn’t look rusty against the Colts.
“It’s a game-changer,” Diggs said. “That wide receiver corps that we got is special. With that guy in the backfield, it’s special as well. He can crease at any time. He breaks tackles. In my opinion, he got a lot more in the tank. He missed a little bit of camp. So, I think he’s getting his legs back, but he’s all-world.
“I think we’re going to see a heavy dose of Joe Mixon. You crawl up, you know what you are going to get. I’m saying you play too high, you play shell coverage, we’re going to do a little bit of blocking, and he’s going to make plays.”
Where did it all start? With an offensive line comprised of Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, left guard Kenyon Green, center Juice Scruggs, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Tytus Howard.
“You got to give the o-line the credit,” DIggs said. “We get all the hoopla and all, but the game is won up front playing on the other line of scrimmage, Our o-line dropped their n--s when they had to. It’s a game-changer. You ain’t got to put in the air.”
The acquisitions of Diggs and Mixon provided energy, experience and skill.
“It’s huge,” Stroud said. “I definitely think that they’re two great leaders. They were constantly on the sideline, picking guys up, telling everybody that we just need to be better. I definitely think that those guys having big games, would definitely just keep us on a train going up.
“Those guys are two leaders. Once you set a standard, everybody else kind of follows to that standard and wants to follow that. So, I definitely love those guys and love what they’ve been doing, and I think that they are just getting started.”
Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Being a captain is something that Diggs set his ambitions on as soon as he was acquired by the defending AFC South champions. And he earned the status by sharing knowledge with his younger teammates.
“Everything,” Diggs said when asked what being named a team captain meant to him. “At this point in my career. Obviously, the past couple of years, I’ve been a captain. Going to a new team, new scenery, new people and earning the respect of my teammates, my coaches, when I say everything it means everything. I play this sport with a chip on my shoulder every day. I’m trying to play with a lot of patience and work ethic. So, to see them acknowledge that and they respect and appreciate you. I just want to do everything I can to be the best captain I can be.
“It was just something I feel like I had to work for. I had to earn something I wanted for myself. I feel like being a captain and that level of accountability not only just holds those around you accountable; it holds yourself accountable. You are who you are. You can’t run from that. I got here from being myself.”
Yes, the former Bills star is fitting right into the Texans’ explosive offense. And, yes, the Texans' offense has plenty of flexibility and diversity of downfield targets. The Texans have a solid argument that they have the most talented wide receiver trio in the NFL between Diggs, Tank Dell and Nico Collins, who signed a three-year, $75 million maximum value deal this offseason.
And Diggs has been welcomed by Stroud, coach DeMeco Ryans and the Texans organization. The diva label frequently attached to Diggs is something that general manager Nick Caserio has characterized as unfair.
“I’m a man of integrity,” Diggs said. “You can ask my peers what kind of player I am. I’m a man who works hard from myself. I’m working hard to earn and everything that I get. Common misconceptions happen all the time. I’m not mad at them. It’s easy to go with a narrative if you don’t do your research and it’s all word of mouth. It’s crazy because you’ve kind of got to rock with the narrative, I guess, if you don’t know me.
“If you believe in me, then you know me on a personal level because I’m up here, you’re gonna know what kind of man I am. My teammates will say it more than I will. I’m a man of integrity. I’m a man, and I pride myself on the hard work of myself and showing up each and every day.”
Diggs and Stroud have formed a fast friendship through their shared love of football and commitment to family.
“He’s family at this point,” Diggs said. “Things kind of fall into place how they’re supposed to. I look at him as family, not just my quarterback. I’m rocking with him through thick and thin. I always tell him I am with you when you’re right, I’m with you when you’re wrong.”
When the Texans acquired Diggs, they made a huge adjustment to his contract. They eliminated the final three years of his original four-year, $96 million extension, per a league source. The Texans have now shifted $3.515 million guaranteed that Diggs was due in 2025 to 2024 and made this a one-year guaranteed $22.5 million contract that includes a $250,000 workout bonus and a $15,000 per game active roster bonus, up to $255,000.
HIs salary-cap figure for this year is $5.8 million.
Diggs received a $20.895 million signing bonus, His $1.21 million base salary is fully guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap. And 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 are voidable years with $30 million base salaries annually for salary-cap accounting purposes. His salary-cap figure for 2024 is just $5.867 million due to this renegotiated contract.
The Texans, in an all-in mode after this blockbuster trade and a spending spree that includes a two-year, $51 million deal for Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter, have made this a one-year arrangement with Diggs, for now. Nothing precludes them from doing a new deal with Diggs, if things go smoothly, or moving on after one year should he leave in free agency. They have this year to build a relationship, and that relationship is off to a fast start.
“I am really excited about adding Stefon to our team,” Ryans said. “I mean, you talk about his influence, it’s not just his influence on the receivers, it’s just his influence on our entire team. Like his competitive spirit, what he brings each and every day, like it lights the fire in our entire team.
“So, I’m very pleased with what he’s done, the energy that he brings, and I’m excited to see him go do it in the regular season. But he’s been, he’s been a leader for us since the day he stepped on the field. And I’m very excited to see him continue to grow, continue to see him build, even better chemistry with his teammates.”
Diggs has put in the time to get to know his teammates. He’s been generous with his time. And he’s earned the respect of his coaches.
“I really like his personality,” offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “I’ve said it before, he’s one of us. I was pretty quick to see that once he was here, I was talking with him. He was around the guys. I mean, the fact that he was voted captain I think shows that he’s one of us. They respect him, they appreciate how much he works and he cares a lot.
“He’s going to do everything he can to prepare himself for game day to make sure he’s in the best spot he can be to go and perform. And he’s ultra-competitive.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.