Vikings sign playoff hero Diggs to 5-year extension
The Minnesota Vikings locked up another core player with a long-term contract Tuesday, signing wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a five-year extension and moving the star of the “Minneapolis Miracle” pass into the NFL’s top 10 highest-paid players at his position.
Diggs has yet to post a 1,000-yard or 100-catch season, but his ability was on full display when he turned a sideline catch into a 61yard touchdown as time ran out to lift the Vikings to victory over New Orleans in last season’s playoffs.
Selected in the fifth round out of Maryland in 2015, Diggs has been one of the biggest steals of that draft. He formed a prolific tandem with Adam Thielen last year, helping Case Keenum stabilize the passing game after Sam Bradford was injured. New quarterback Kirk Cousins was elated by the news.
“What I most like is he loves football and loves to come and work, because as a quarterback, it can be miserable if you’re out here with someone who is here to just get a paycheck and leave,” Cousins said.
The Vikings offense was at the new practice facility on Monday night past 9 p.m.
“I’ve been a part of some locker rooms where by 9 o’clock, some of your guys are sleeping in the back row, not taking notes, not paying attention. They’re basically checked out, texting or whatever,” Cousins said. “That’s not him. That’s not these guys.”
The new deal is valued at $72 million plus an additional $9 million in possible incentives, according to a person with knowledge of the contract who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details have not been released publicly.
Diggs received a $15 million signing bonus.
Another injury strikes the Chargers
Chargers cornerback Trevor Williams injured his leg during the fourth practice of training camp, potentially dealing another blow to Los Angeles’ depth in the defensive secondary.
But coach Anthony Lynn is cautiously optimistic that his team’s latest injury isn’t serious.
Williams was hurt while defending receiver Mike Williams in a red zone drill. Trevor Williams had to be helped off the field by teammate Jahleel Addae. After getting attention from the training staff, he left Jack Hammett Sports Complex on crutches with his left foot in a walking boot.
The injury and Williams’ reaction to it were foreboding, but Lynn was hopeful he hasn’t lost his starting cornerback for an extended period.
“You’re holding your breath there,” Lynn said. “I think he sprained his ankle, but I don’t think it’s bad. I mean, it’s the fourth day of training camp. Hell, we have coaches around here limping. Coaches are sore, so I can’t imagine how the players feel.”
Banged-up Baldwin to get some time off
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin missed a third straight practice while dealing with a knee issue.
Coach Pete Carroll said after practice that Baldwin had a sore knee coming into camp. He practiced the first two days with the team before being held out each of the last three practices.
“We’re just going to take our time with it and be patient,” Carroll said.
Carroll said the team is going to give the former Stanford standout a couple of weeks off in order to give him the downtime he needs before gradually working him back to full speed. Carroll said the team knows exactly what the issue is, although the coach wouldn’t go into detail.
“He’s doing some special treatments to make sure we’re taking care of him and then we want to bring him back into shape so we can really get him ready for the long haul,” Carroll said.
Defensive end Dion Jordan is also going to miss an extended amount of time while he recovers from what Carroll called a “stress issue” in his “other leg.” Jordan has been plagued by injuries to his left knee in past seasons, but it appears his right leg is currently the issue.
Following the departures of Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, the Seahawks have been counting on Jordan to be a presence at defensive end. The four sacks he racked up in five games last season left Seattle excited about what he could bring to the table. However, he continues to struggle to stay on the field.
Other news
Denver coach Vance Joseph said he doesn’t expect defensive end Derek Wolfe to miss time after sustaining a neck stinger at practice. Wolfe had surgery this offseason after dealing with neck problems off and on since 2013. Also, Broncos tight end Jake Butt returned to full pads for the first time since tearing his right ACL against Florida State in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30, 2016. The secondyear player out of Michigan said the knee feels “100 percent.” ... Officials in an Indianapolis suburb that’s home to the Colts’ summer training camp agreed to pay about $1.1 million over three years toward the team’s hotel rental. Contract documents obtained by The Indianapolis Star through a records request show Westfield officials committed to paying half of the hotel rental bill last year while publicly saying no city incentives would be used to help lure the Colts . ... The Tennessee Titans added defensive linemen Johnny Maxey and Du’Vonta Lampkin after placing cornerback Tye Smith on injured reserve and waiving injured defensive lineman Claude Pelon.