Two Maryland wide receivers dominated the NFL's opening week for very different reasons — one by rewriting a franchise record book, the other by rewriting Washington's final score in the wrong direction.
DJ Moore: Historic Debut, Uncertain Future
DJ Moore arrived in Buffalo via trade this offseason, and he wasted no time justifying the Bills' faith. In his debut against the Houston Texans on Sept. 13, Moore caught five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, putting his name in the Bills' record books with what was described as a historically strong first performance for a receiver in a Buffalo uniform.
Then came Thursday night against Detroit. Moore carried that momentum into the first half against the Lions — before a shoulder injury forced him out of the game in the second quarter. He was ruled out for the second half and listed as day-to-day in the immediate aftermath. Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady offered measured optimism, saying simply: "If DJ Moore can be out there for Week 3, he'll be out there." Buffalo, which won 41-31, is already being linked to contingency options at wide receiver should Moore miss extended time.
A record-breaking debut followed by a potential injury setback is about as brutal an NFL opening act as it gets.
Stefon Diggs: A Touchdown, a Fine, and a Loss
Stefon Diggs returned to the DMV with the Commanders and scored his first touchdown in Washington's colors against the Eagles on Sept. 13 — a homecoming moment that lasted approximately as long as it took him to jump on the goalpost.
That celebration drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. In a game Washington lost 24-22, the flag proved decisive, wiping out what might otherwise have been a feel-good storyline. Diggs finished with four catches for 55 yards and the score, but the penalty overshadowed everything. Head coach Dan Quinn addressed how the team was handling it, and the NFL followed up by officially fining Diggs before the Week 2 matchup in Dallas — one last reminder of Week 1 just days before kickoff.
Diggs catching a touchdown for his hometown team should have been the story. Instead, it became a cautionary tale about a celebration that literally cost Washington the game.
Around the Rest of the Terps
A handful of other Maryland alumni made quiet but notable appearances in Week 1. Chig Okonkwo contributed two catches for 16 yards in the same Commanders loss, though he was subsequently ruled out for Week 2 against the Cowboys. Dante Trader Jr. picked off a pass in the Dolphins' 13-27 loss to the Raiders. Deonte Banks played in the Giants' 28-20 win over Dallas but entered Week 2 listed as questionable with the Giants already thin at cornerback after Paulson Adebo was placed on injured reserve.
Week 1 gave Maryland's NFL alumni a lot to build on — and a few things to clean up.
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