July 28, 2026 9:56 PM PDT
The were blindsided by a pair of unexpected off-the-field distractions late in the regular season when wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore were criminally charged in separate cases. While Barmores charge is a misdemeanor, Diggs is facing multiple charges, including one felony allegation. Diggs was Drake Mayes top target throughout the season, overcoming a 2024 ACL tear and giving the young quarterback a reliable veteran pa s-catcher to help the Patriots offense blo som en route to a Super Bowl 60 appearance. The New England wideout plead not guilty to charges offelony strangulation and misdemeanor a sault on Feb. 13. Heres what you need to know about the charges Diggs is facing. MORE: Stefon Diggs a sault charges, explained Diggs was charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor a sault and battery as a result of an incident that allegedly took place on Dec. 2 in Ma sachusetts, on Dec. 30. He has not yet been arraigned. According to , Diggs' "former personal chef claims the Patriots star slapped her and tried to choke her out over a salary dispute" in early December, citing the police report. She reported the incident to police on Dec. 16, and charges were filed two weeks later. "The woman claims during the conversation, Diggs became angry and smacked her acro s the face. She said she attempted to push him away, but he then 'tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck,'" TMZ reported. The woman also claims Diggs threw her onto a bed. The alleged D'angelo Mandell Jersey incident took place one day after the Patriots defeated the on "Monday Night Football." Diggs "categorically denies the allegations," the Patriots said in a statement on Dec. 30, but he has largely stayed quiet about the situation ever since. Diggs' arraignment was held on Feb. 13. During a brief appearance in front of a judge, Diggs plead not guilty to charges of felony strangulation and misdemeanor a sault. He was ordered to not have contact with his accuser. He'll return to the court on April 1 for a pretrial hearing. MORE: Will Stefon Diggs be suspended? Diggs could still be suspended at some point, but the NFL will likely wait until his legal case is resolved before making a decision on a punishment. It's worth noting the NFL does not need a guilty plea or conviction to suspend a player. NFL policy calls for the league to conduct its own investigation regardle s of how the case is handled legally. For example, the NFL suspended Ezekiel Elliott six games after investigating domestic violence allegations that never resulted in criminal charges. MORE: Stefon Diggs stats with Patriots Games Targets Rec. Yards TD Yards/rec. 17 102 85 1,013 4 11.9 Diggs recorded his seventh career 1,000-yard season in 2025, reaching the mark and earning a contract incentive as a result in Week 18. Diggs, who ranks sixth among active players with 11,504 receiving yards, also posted the highest catch rate of his career in 2025 and was the Patriots' first 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. Zane Gonzalez Jersey
The were blindsided by a pair of unexpected off-the-field distractions late in the regular season when wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore were criminally charged in separate cases. While Barmores charge is a misdemeanor, Diggs is facing multiple charges, including one felony allegation. Diggs was Drake Mayes top target throughout the season, overcoming a 2024 ACL tear and giving the young quarterback a reliable veteran pa s-catcher to help the Patriots offense blo som en route to a Super Bowl 60 appearance. The New England wideout plead not guilty to charges offelony strangulation and misdemeanor a sault on Feb. 13. Heres what you need to know about the charges Diggs is facing. MORE: Stefon Diggs a sault charges, explained Diggs was charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor a sault and battery as a result of an incident that allegedly took place on Dec. 2 in Ma sachusetts, on Dec. 30. He has not yet been arraigned. According to , Diggs' "former personal chef claims the Patriots star slapped her and tried to choke her out over a salary dispute" in early December, citing the police report. She reported the incident to police on Dec. 16, and charges were filed two weeks later. "The woman claims during the conversation, Diggs became angry and smacked her acro s the face. She said she attempted to push him away, but he then 'tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck,'" TMZ reported. The woman also claims Diggs threw her onto a bed. The alleged D'angelo Mandell Jersey incident took place one day after the Patriots defeated the on "Monday Night Football." Diggs "categorically denies the allegations," the Patriots said in a statement on Dec. 30, but he has largely stayed quiet about the situation ever since. Diggs' arraignment was held on Feb. 13. During a brief appearance in front of a judge, Diggs plead not guilty to charges of felony strangulation and misdemeanor a sault. He was ordered to not have contact with his accuser. He'll return to the court on April 1 for a pretrial hearing. MORE: Will Stefon Diggs be suspended? Diggs could still be suspended at some point, but the NFL will likely wait until his legal case is resolved before making a decision on a punishment. It's worth noting the NFL does not need a guilty plea or conviction to suspend a player. NFL policy calls for the league to conduct its own investigation regardle s of how the case is handled legally. For example, the NFL suspended Ezekiel Elliott six games after investigating domestic violence allegations that never resulted in criminal charges. MORE: Stefon Diggs stats with Patriots Games Targets Rec. Yards TD Yards/rec. 17 102 85 1,013 4 11.9 Diggs recorded his seventh career 1,000-yard season in 2025, reaching the mark and earning a contract incentive as a result in Week 18. Diggs, who ranks sixth among active players with 11,504 receiving yards, also posted the highest catch rate of his career in 2025 and was the Patriots' first 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. Zane Gonzalez Jersey