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After star wide receiver Stefon Diggs no-showed the Buffalo Bills’ mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, Bills quarterback Josh Allen came to his defense and indicated that there may be off-field issues they have to get through.
When asked about Diggs’ absence, Allen told reporters, “Internally, we’re working on some things non-football related.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters he was “very concerned” about Diggs skipping the mandatory session, as he was the only player on the roster to do so. However, his signal-caller didn’t share the same concerns.
Allen added that he spoke to Diggs on Tuesday and didn’t sound worried about him not being present at minicamp, saying they have a lot of time to “figure this out.”
Allen was also asked directly if he felt there was a personality conflict between him and Diggs, and he responded, “No. I don’t think so. There are some things that could have gone better last year and they didn’t.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted that Diggs’ agent said his absence Tuesday was “not contract related.” The agent also found McDermott’s comment “a little odd” considering there is “an in-house situation that they are on the way to resolving.”
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
From Inside Minicamps on NFL+: The situation surrounding #Bills star Stefon Diggs is not contract related, his agent says. And perhaps things are on the way to being resolved. More here 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/6X4vZnipxg
The three-time Pro Bowl wideout has not been present at any of Buffalo’s offseason team activities, fueling speculation that he’s unhappy with the team. During the Bills’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round last season, Diggs was seen on the sidelines berating Allen, and he left the locker room without speaking to reporters after the game.
It will be interesting to see how the situation in Buffalo plays out, as Diggs is undoubtedly their best offensive skill player. His connection with Allen will be the key to the Bills’ hopes of winning their fourth straight division title and making a deeper playoff run.
