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By Eva Geitheim
Contributing sportswriter
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For four seasons, Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs formed one of the most dangerous quarterback-wide receiver duos in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. The two players combined for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns as Diggs racked up over 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons and the Bills made the playoffs each year.
Diggs was the unquestioned No. 1 wideout on a team lacking marquee talent on the offensive side of the ball outside of him.
Despite the production they put up together, the Bills pulled off the unthinkable when they traded their No. 1 weapon to the Houston Texans, leaving the Bills without any highly touted skill position players.
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"Just thanking him for everything that he did for me," Allen said in April regarding what he texted Diggs after he was traded. "I'll always have a spot in my heart for him and I'll always love him like a brother and wish him nothing but the best."
The Bills are now practicing in training camp without Diggs for the first time since 2019, but Allen isn't necessarily missing his former teammate outside of what he contributed to the team. When asked if Allen missed his former No. 1 wide receiver, he had this to say:
"Stef is a great player, and what he brought to this team was special," Allen said. "Miss, is –– I don't know if I'd say miss."
Allen continued, "He was a guy that was reliable you could look to; he's going to have the juice each and every day. I'm sure he's bringing it over there in Houston. So, definitely, you can't say that you don't miss that, but I am very happy with what we've got going on here and how hard the guys have been working."
There had been rumored tension between the two stars over the past couple seasons. Diggs was seen yelling at Allen during the Bills' 27-10 playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in January of 2023. Following that moment, there were rumors of contention between the two players throughout the offseason.
More news: Stefon Diggs Shades Bills Mafia on Social Media Following Trade to Texans
Allen and Diggs initially debunked those theories heading into the 2023 season. Allen said he "loved" Diggs and called him "his guy," while adding that the media had "blown things out of proportion." Diggs later told Von Miller on The Von Cast, "I'm just happy to have my quarterback."
Despite this, Allen was seen yelling "it's just one f***ing game" at Diggs, who told Allen to "be smart" as he threw three picks during the Bills' Week 1 loss to the New York Jets last season.
Both players credited these moments to their competitive nature, but there could have been more under the surface given what has happened since.
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Now, the Bills prepare for the 2024 season without a proven No.1 receiver. The Bills have been criticized for not building enough of an offense around Allen, who is widely considered a generational type of talent and passer.
The Bills feel they have been finding their identity so far in training camp, and Allen likes the "unpredictability" of the team's offense, noting that the team has a "different vibe at this point," which he finds to be a good thing.
"We've found a sense of identity in what we are and what we want to do with the football," Allen said, via ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg. "We got a lot of guys that are smart, that can play different positions, that you can move around. And there's a bit of unpredictability for us. And that's kind of fun as a quarterback."
Allen will make his preseason debut on Saturday against the Chicago Bears, after head coach Sean McDermott announced Thursday he will see playing time in the preseason.
The Bills begin the regular season on Sep. 8 against the Arizona Cardinals. Buffalo takes on Diggs and the Texans on Oct. 6.
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