New England patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing felony and misdemeanor charges following an incident earlier this month, raising questions about the future of the team’s star player as they prepare for a playoff run [[1]]. Diggs was charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault after a court hearing in Dedham, Massachusetts on Tuesday [[2]], though details of the alleged incident remain limited. The Patriots have publicly backed Diggs, who maintains his innocence and claims the charges stem from a financial dispute [[3]].
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New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing serious criminal charges, including felony strangulation, following an incident earlier this month, authorities announced Tuesday.
The charges emerged after a court hearing in Dedham, Massachusetts, but details surrounding the alleged incident remain unclear. Diggs is also facing misdemeanor charges of assault and battery.
Diggs’s attorney, David Meier, released a statement asserting the player’s innocence. “Mr. Diggs categorically denies these allegations,” Meier stated. “The allegations are unsubstantiated and uncorroborated.”
Meier further claimed the charges stem from a financial dispute with a former employee. “The timing and motivation for making the allegations is crystal clear: they are the direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee’s satisfaction,” he wrote.
The Patriots have publicly expressed their support for Diggs amid the allegations. “We support Stefon,” the team said in a statement.
Diggs, 32, revitalized his career with dominant stretches in Minnesota and Buffalo, recording six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 2018-2023 and earning four Pro Bowl selections.
After a single season with the Houston Texans, Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Patriots in free agency, a deal that guarantees him $26 million. He quickly became a key target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Diggs’s arrival has been instrumental in the Patriots’ success this season, helping the team clinch the AFC East title and secure a playoff berth. The Patriots are looking to make a deep run in the postseason after a surprising turnaround.
Earlier this year, Diggs faced scrutiny when a video circulated on social media appearing to show him passing a bag of pink crystals to women on a boat. The nature of the substance remains unknown. An NFL spokesperson said the league would not comment on the matter, and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel indicated the team would address the situation internally.
