It’s possible that months before Wednesday’s bombshell trade to Houston, the writing was already on the wall regarding Stefon Diggs‘ departure from Buffalo.
The Athletic’s Tim Graham detailed the aftermath of the Bills’ overtime loss to the Jets in Week 1 of the 2023 season on this week’s “Tim Graham and Friends” podcast. He revealed how Josh Allen and Tyler Diggs’ postgame conversation led to the quarterback taking a jab at the standout wide out.
Tim Graham’s version of Stefon Diggs- Josh Allen spat
After the Bills’ season-opening 22-16 loss, Graham remembered seeing Allen in the locker room. He didn’t include this information in his initial reporting because he wasn’t sure what the four-time Pro Bowler had said. Graham said,
“Josh Allen was sitting there in full uniform with [backup quarterback] Kyle Allen, trying to console him, and a steam of players coming up, patting him on the back, dapping him up… They were trying to pick the guy up, he had a towel draped over his head and he just sat there,” “But Josh Allen snapped at him, and he said, ‘It’s one f–king game,’ and kind of motioned I’m not talking to you here, and Diggs walked away and Josh sat there,” “… Whatever Stefon Diggs said to him, Josh Allen wasn’t having it.”
WILD: Josh Allen went OFF on Stefon Diggs after their week one loss to the #Jets:
“It’s one f**king game!”
(h/t @uSTADIUM) pic.twitter.com/lxEqWzfUOt
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 5, 2024
Graham continued the podcast by pointing out that Diggs’ output declined in the second half of the season after comparing his numbers from the first nine games, in which the Bills finished 5-4, to the second half, in which they went 7-3.
In a recent report, Devin McCourty claimed the Bills’ offense “is trying to prove to Diggs that they don’t need him.” Graham also brought this to attention. Diggs told reporters in February that he was taking his future “day by day” despite finishing the season with 107 receptions, 1,183 yards, and eight touchdowns.
This week, the Bills traded Diggs to the Texans in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick from Houston. Since then, the Texans have altered Diggs’ deal to allow him to sign a free agent contract after 2024.