Stefon Diggs Reportedly Has 'Exceeded Expectations' at Patriots Camp amid Injury Rehab

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has "exceeded expectations" as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

"It was a significant injury that took him off the field for the Houston Texans," Rapoport said Thursday on NFL Network. "It was a torn ACL. It was the kind of thing where if you tear your ACL in the middle of the season, a lot times for guys you can practice in training camp, but it really takes you several games to kind of get back into it. It does not feel like that has been the case for Stefon Diggs."

Diggs' Patriots tenure got off to an inauspicious start. Months after he signed with the team, a video circulated on social media showing him on a boat and passing around a packet of what appeared to be a pink substance.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters in response to the video that "we want to make great decisions on and off the field."

"We're hoping that with our time here on the field today, that when we don't have a script and we're on the call periods, that we're making great decisions," he said. "The message will be the same for all our players, that we're trying to make great decisions. Any conversations that I've had with Stefon will remain between him, I and the club."

The MMQB's Albert Breer reported in June that "think there was a point last week when everything was on the table" in terms of Diggs' future. A conversation between the four-time Pro Bowler and Vrabel helped resolve the matter.

"But I think all that at this point is past them," Breer said. "He was there again today, and so I think right now, they're moving forward. It's not erased from the ledger, but my understanding is they've moved forward."

New England gave Diggs $63.5 million over three years and $22.6 million guaranteed. The team is clearly counting on him to provide a big lift for young quarterback Drake Maye.

Signing a player coming off a torn ACL is always a risk, and Diggs is on the wrong side of 30. It sounds like the investment may nonetheless pay off for the Pats.