Practice ends and Texans players start to head back to the locker room from the Methodist Training Center next to NRG Stadium.
The wide receivers, however, stick behind and head to the juggs machines. Sometimes, it’s C.J. Stroud sticking around for a few more passes.
Every so often, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. or rookie Kamari Lassiter hangs back to go over route concepts.
The teacher? New receiver Stefon Diggs, who one week into training camp has taken on the wise old veteran persona. Entering his ninth season, Diggs has been at this long enough to pass down wisdom.
The location has changed twice since being drafted in the fifth round out of Maryland back in 2015. His goals, however, haven’t and he wants to bring everyone at NRG Stadium along for the ride.
“No matter how much success you have, [you] always try to bring as many people with you,” Diggs said Monday following practice. “And you won’t dim your light at all, shining light on anybody else, especially with these guys. They’re real special.”
Houston, fresh off its first division since 2019, has the makings of greatness. Stroud is only entering his second season and could be a consistent MVP candidate.
Nico Collins, who took over as the new No. 1 target, might just be getting started after finishing with over 1,200 receiving yards. Rising second-year star Tank Dell might make the case for this year’s breakout receiver.
Defensively, what’s not to like? The Texans posted a franchise record 46 sacks last season en route to a playoff win, headlined by Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr.
He has a new running mate in four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter. Not to mention, the Texans still have a promising secondary featuring Stingley, Lassiter and Jalen Pitre.
But Diggs is special. Not just that, he’s proven. He joins Houston fresh off six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. After being traded from Minnesota to Buffalo in 2020, Diggs has totaled at least 103 catches in each of the last four years.
Diggs also comes with a negative persona in the public eye, with some calling him a “diva” in the locker room. In the four months since being traded, there have only been positive words of him being a leader and teacher.
“Everybody says all this stuff about him, he is a diva, but I haven’t seen it,” offensive tackle Tytus Howard said. “In the locker room, on the field, pep talks when we are in the huddle, he is a great dude, and he backs it up when he gets on the field.”
Perhaps there’s a difference between prima donna and persistent. Diggs, 30, wants to be the best in each rep. He hates losing and not just when the lights are bright on Sundays.
But after two stops with two franchises on the rise, Diggs understands this is a team sport. While he can work up to a level unimagined, the rest of the troupe must follow behind. To do so, they all must be on the same page with the same intentions.
Dell, who caught seven touchdown passes before suffering a season-ending leg injury last season, said sometimes he and John Metchie won’t have to ask for advice since Diggs offers his opinion before the impending route.
“He gives us free game all the time,” Dell said. “He wants us to be great. He tells us what we should expect, how to move and things like that.”
Stroud, who became the fifth passer in league history to throw for over 4,000 yards as a rookie, mentioned how Diggs doesn’t cheat success. Every rep is expected to be better than the previous one and it shouldn’t be better than the next.
“That’s why he’s been successful and I think he’ll continue that success,” Stroud said. “I’m blessed enough to, hopefully, be a part of that.”
Diggs not only dishes out advice, but he also asks for it. It’s not just from offensive players, either. Multiple times he’s spent reps after practice picking Stingley’s brain or working drills against Lassiter.
“He’s just a guy who really loves the game, so I mean, he’s just really passionate about what he does and he just lets it be known and I like that because I’m the same way,” Lassiter said.
Stroud won’t be up for a new deal until after 2027, meaning Houston will maximize its salary cap space to build around him and an affordable deal. It was why the Texans were willing to trade out of the first round to acquire better draft capital to finalize a trade.
Houston wanted a receiver. Instead, it landed what looks to be a mentor and leader on offense who could end the missing link of surging past the divisional round.
As offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik puts it, the Texans landed someone who has embraced the team’s culture.
“He’s one of us,” said Slowik. “That’s the number one thing that jumps out to me is — he’s one of us.”
