HOUSTON – Stefon Diggs wasn’t initially sure how it was going to feel going back to Minnesota where he launched his NFL career a decade ago.
As the Texans’ Pro Bowl wide receiver played his first game in Minneapolis since being traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2020, he was surprised by his feelings.
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Diggs was warmly greeted by the Vikings fans who will always remember him for his dramatic “Minneapolis Miracle” touchdown catch for a last-second playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints.
“I was a little emotional before the game,” Diggs said. “I didn’t really feel it during the week. Being in the stadium kind of changed my emotions a little bit. There’s a lot of love here. I’m forever thankful. I shared some special memories here. I’m forever thankful. It hit me pregame a little in a good place.”
It was a day of mixed feelings, though, as the Texans fell to 2-1 for the season as they absorbed a 34-7 loss to the 3-0 Vikings.
Diggs did his part, catching a season-high 10 passes for 94 yards. He also completed a 13-yard pass to running back Dare Ogunbowale in the second quarter.
However, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was intercepted twice, his first turnovers of the season. And the Texans were penalized 11 times for 88 yards. Plus, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold passed for four touchdowns and wasn’t intercepted.
“You’ve got to do it right,” Diggs said. “A lot of us have had adversity, worse times. We have to come back to work on the corrections. We had a lot of miscues. We want to be more excited. We want a lot of positive energy. Everything will be fine.”
#Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs said he believes the mistakes are all fixable, adding that it was an 'emotional' day for him being back in Minnesota @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/DJsoS7pQra
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 22, 2024
The Texans host the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday in an AFC South divisional game.
“We’re trying to give them a strong divisional game next week,” Diggs said. “I’m hoping to bounce back, looking to get on the right track.”
The Texans had issues with the super noisy crowd and with penalties.
“I feel like it was more self-inflicted,” Diggs said. “It’s more about us.”
Playing against his former team, Diggs had a lot of emotions running through him.
“Obviously, I’m not happy,” he said. “It’s kind of weird to be happy for the guys that you see. Obviously, you want them to be successful. It’s kind of like a weird spot. Happy for those guys, happy to see those familiar faces, but we didn’t play well enough today. It’s a little bit of a roller coaster, but it was smiles for the guys that I did see and I support from afar.”
#Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs @stefondiggs first game in Minnesota since 2020 trade from #Vikings @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/HRUryqE6rE
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 22, 2024
Minnesota is where Diggs, 30, first found success in the NFL. Now, the Olney, Maryland native is a potential future Hall of Fame wide receiver in the exclusive 10,000 receiving yard fraternity and a team captain with the Texans after an offseason trade from the Buffalo Bills.
“Being a young guy, they took a real chance for me,” said Diggs, who caught 12 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown for the Bills in a 2022 matchup against the Vikings in Buffalo. “So, I’m forever thankful for that. I had a great time there. ‘Minnesota Nice’ is always the thing I always think of. They took a chance on me drafting me. I had to have the time there. The people were amazing.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
