In Boston, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs entered a plea of not guilty on Friday to charges of felony strangulation and other related offenses in connection with an alleged altercation involving his personal chef.

Judge Jeanmarie Carroll of the Dedham District Court in Massachusetts released the 32-year-old Diggs on personal recognizance and instructed him to avoid any contact with the purported victim. A pretrial hearing has been set for April 1.

During the brief court session, which lasted under five minutes, Diggs appeared in a white shirt and tie beneath a gray sweater, standing alongside his attorney. Both Diggs and his legal team chose not to address the media following the proceedings.

The arraignment, initially scheduled for January 23, was delayed to allow Diggs to participate in Super Bowl LX, where the Patriots were defeated by the Seattle Seahawks with a score of 29-13.

Court documents reveal that the chef reported to Dedham police that a disagreement over unpaid wages led to a confrontation with Diggs on December 2 at his residence. She alleges that Diggs “struck her across the face” and then “attempted to choke her by placing his elbow around her neck,” resulting in difficulty breathing and a fear of losing consciousness.

Diggs’ attorney has firmly stated that the athlete “categorically denies these allegations,” describing them as baseless and driven by a financial disagreement. The charges against Diggs include one count of felony strangulation or suffocation and one count of misdemeanor assault and battery.

The Patriots released a statement saying they support him.

Police said the woman first reported the incident Dec. 16 and initially hesitated to pursue charges before later requesting them, according to court documents.

Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with New England in the offseason and was a key target for quarterback Drake Maye during the Patriots’ AFC East title run. Before joining the Patriots, Diggs was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 and played for the Buffalo Bills before a brief stint with the Houston Texans in 2024.