New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has successfully obtained a postponement of his felony strangulation arraignment, pushing the high-profile court date from January 23 to February 13 in Dedham, Massachusetts, after his attorneys cited a previously scheduled professional commitment that conflicted with the original hearing, according to court documents and multiple reports.[6][4][7] The Patriots star, whose legal troubles have drawn intense attention from both sports and hip-hop media, is charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery stemming from an alleged incident with his former private chef.[6][1]
According to CBS Boston, Diggs’ arraignment was initially set for January 23 in Dedham District Court, just two days before a potential AFC Championship Game appearance for the Patriots, before a judge approved a defense motion to delay the proceeding until February 13, five days after Super Bowl LX.[6][5] TMZ Sports likewise reports that Diggs’ lawyer argued in a court filing that he had a “previously-scheduled professional commitment” on the original date, and the court subsequently moved the arraignment to February 13, effectively allowing the 32-year-old receiver to remain available throughout the NFL postseason.[4][7]
Diggs is allegedly facing charges tied to a reported December 2 incident at his Dedham home involving his personal chef, who claims a dispute over unpaid wages turned physical.[2][6] Police reports and local coverage state that the woman accused Diggs of striking her in the face and then placing her in a chokehold, making it difficult for her to breathe, before allegedly throwing her onto a bed.[2][6] Diggs has categorically denied the allegations through his attorneys, with one lawyer calling the claims “unsubstantiated” and insisting that Diggs looks forward to clearing his name in court, according to Marca and local Boston reporting.[7][6]
The postponement has significant implications for both the NFL and pop culture, as Diggs’ case sits at the intersection of pro football and rap-adjacent celebrity. The Patriots organization has publicly stood by the wideout while the legal process plays out, and the delayed arraignment virtually guarantees he will not face immediate league discipline before the Super Bowl window, ProFootballTalk notes.[1][5] Diggs’ longtime partner, Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B, has also publicly defended him and questioned the accuser’s account, further fueling conversation across hip-hop media and social platforms.[4][7] As the case moves forward next month, rap and sports audiences alike will be closely watching how the court proceedings—and any potential NFL response—unfold around one of the league’s most visible players with deep ties to hip-hop culture.
