(Gray News/AP) – New England Patriots star wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing charges in connection with an incident that happened on Dec. 2, police said.
News of the charges emerged after a court hearing Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts.
Diggs was charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery, the Associated Press said.
The charges stem from something that happened the day after the Patriots’ 33-15 win over the New York Giants during week 13 on Monday Night Football, but details of the incident are not clear.
Diggs’ lawyer, David Meier, said in an emailed statement that Diggs “categorically denies these allegations.”
Meier said the allegations never occurred, describing them as unsubstantiated and uncorroborated.
“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,” Meier wrote.
According to ESPN, Diggs’ attorneys are arguing that details about the case should remain sealed.
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) looks on against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.(Adam Hunger | AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The New England Patriots released the following statement to Sports Illustrated about the situation:
“The New England Patriots are aware of the accusations that have been made regarding Stefon Diggs. Stefon has informed the organization that he categorically denies the allegations. We support Stefon. We will continue to gather information and will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and the NFL as necessary. Out of respect for all parties involved, and given that this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”
Diggs, 32, established himself as one of the NFL’s best wide receivers during a run with Minnesota and Buffalo from 2018 to 2023, when he had six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times.
After a lackluster stint in Houston last year, Diggs ended up in New England, signing a three-year, $69 million deal in free agency that guaranteed him $26 million.
Diggs has proven a reliable target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye and is a big reason why the team has once again clinched the AFC East title as the team heads toward the playoffs.
Off the field, though, his tenure with the Patriots got off to a rocky start when a video surfaced on social media in May showing Diggs passing what appeared to be a bag of pink crystals to women on a boat.
It wasn’t clear what the substance was, and an NFL spokesperson said the league would not comment. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said the team would handle that matter internally.
Copyright 2025 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.