With Stefon Diggs just 10 months removed from his ACL injury, it was not really a surprise the 31-year-old receiver didn't play for the Patriots in the team's preseason opener Friday night. But an extremely cryptic answer from head coach Mike Vrabel suggests Diggs' absence against the Washington Commanders was not only a health-related decision.

Fast forward four months and to Diggs not just being cleared for full camp participation, but immediately filling the role he was signed to play in the first place. The 31-year-old stepped right into the Patriots’ starting lineup,