Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen publicly thanks ex-teammate Stefon Diggs

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen publicly thanked ex-teammate Stefon Diggs on Thursday and revealed he sent the wide receiver a text message.

“Yes, I shared a text with him and received one back, just thanking him for everything he’s done for me,” Allen told reporters Thursday in his first public comments since the Bills traded Diggs. “I will always have a place in my heart for him and I will always love him like a brother and wish him nothing but the best.”

The Bills traded Diggs to the Houston Texans earlier this month after the receiver spent four seasons in Buffalo. Diggs’ tenure in upstate New York was turbulent.

Diggs led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards in 2020, had four straight seasons with 100+ receptions and received four straight Pro Bowl invitations. However, there were times when Diggs’ frustration spilled over onto the sideline for Allen and other teammates.

The wideout missed the first day of mandatory minicamp in 2023 and he made cryptic comments on social media.

Diggs’ production dropped midway through 2023. He finished the season with 11 straight regular season games with fewer than 100 receiving yards and had just 73 receiving yards combined in Buffalo’s two playoff games that season. last.

The Bills then traded the star to Houston after Diggs’ time in Buffalo appeared to have run its course at the end of the 2023 season.

“My lasting memory of (Stefon) will be the receiver who helped me become the quarterback I am today,” Allen said. “I will always thank him for that.”

Allen’s two Pro Bowl selections (2020 and 2022) came with Diggs as his leading receiver. Diggs’ departure created a huge hole at Buffalo’s wide receiver position. In addition to trading Diggs, the Bills also lost their No. 2 receiver, Gabe Davis, to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Josh Allen publicly thanks former Buffalo Bills teammate Stefon Diggs