Bills’ Stephon Diggs is back in practice after a day out

Tuesday’s unusual start began when coach Sean McDermott responded to a question about Diggs attending mandatory mini-camp by saying he was “not here.” When asked how concerned he was about Diggs’ absence, McDermott replied, “Very concerned. Very concerned,” and then declined to dwell on it further or provide any further details.

Especially when players miss [a] You love having these guys here, said McDermott, a player of Steve’s caliber. So, overall, I was happy with the attendance and the guys’ efforts.

Diggs was in the building Monday after missing the team’s voluntary off-season training program, for both the Bills and his agent, Adisa Bakari. Diggs took Mondays, Bacary told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and met with general manager Brandon Bean and McDermott on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Quarterback Josh Allen said he spoke with Diggs on Tuesday and that “I’m sure we’ll have more conversations going forward and as an organization, as a receiver QB, as offensive coordinator, whatever goes in.”

His agent said that Diggs “will be there for the entire junior camp.”

According to the bills, Diggs left the facility before Tuesday’s practice. He was not present for any part of the team’s practice on the facility’s outdoor field on Tuesday. The team is also scheduled to practice on Thursday.

“I know inwardly we’re working on some stuff, not football related, but Steve, he’s my guy. Oops… I love him. He’s my brother,” Allen said Tuesday. “It just doesn’t work, what we do here, without him. We wish he was here today and he was out there in the field with us which isn’t the case, but I support him no matter what. Again, I have no doubt we’ll find out what’s going on and his creepy love. I can’t stress.” On that enough. There are things I can do better and help with the process and try to get him back here and be the Buffalo Bill he was meant to be.”

Allen and Von Miller expressed their love and support for Diggs on Tuesday and played down his absence, in part due to him being early in the NFL calendar.

Diggs signed a four-year, $96 million extension in the most recent offseason, and his trade would take a huge hit of $31.1 million in dead money if he was traded. His deal included a guaranteed $70 million, the third most ever for a wide receiver. Diggs, 29, and Buffalo had their sights set on retiring with the Bills when the contract was signed in April 2022.

After a postseason loss to the Bengals in January that marked Buffalo’s offense’s lowest production of the year, Diggs was noticeably upset with Allen on the sidelines and left before speaking to the media.

Diggs’ production declined in the second half of the 2022 season. He started the year at an accelerated pace for his best career season statistically with 72 receptions on 98 targets for 985 yards and seven touchdowns in his first nine games. In the nine games that followed, including the postseason, Diggs caught 47 receptions on 74 targets and four touchdowns.

“I just think we, as an organization, maybe we’re not communicating in the right way with everything,” Allen said. “So again, just trying to talk and listen at the same time and listen to him. And like I said, just try to move forward as quickly and respectfully as possible.”