Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver D.J. Moore returned to the area where he starred as a Maryland Terrapin. Playing just 20 minutes away from the campus of the University of Maryland at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Moore and the Panthers visited the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Unfortunately for the 2017 Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year, his return was marred by a first half full of mistakes by the rookie.
Moore had three huge mistakes that ultimately cost his Panthers early on. First he was unable to get down the field and down that would have pinned the Redskins inside the five-yard line, however, the ball rolled into the end zone for a touchback.
The Panthers forced a punt on the drive, but Moore fumbled the football on the ensuing punt return, as the rookie tried to do too much with the football coughing it up in the process with the Redskins recovering deep inside Panthers’ territory.
Check out rookie LB Shaun Dion Hamilton getting his hand on the ball on during the punt return to force the fumble. pic.twitter.com/HPYbH6FWT5
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) October 14, 2018
Carolina paid immediately for Moore’s gaffe as Redskins quarterback Alex Smith hit tight end Vernon Davis on the very next play for a 22-yard touchdown.
Moore had one more mistake in him left for the half. After catching a pass from quarterback Cam Newton, Moore lost the football for his second fumble of the game, as Redskins cornerback Josh Norman punched the ball free.
Josh Norman has always looked to punch the ball out when tackling. Got it spot on here. Forces the fumble, #Redskins recover pic.twitter.com/m4JsgEbEJ0
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) October 14, 2018
Washington would score a field goal extending their lead to 17-0 with 10 of those points coming off Moore’s two turnovers. Carolina answered late in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 17-6, but it’s clear the Panthers will have to play catch up in order to stave off an upset loss to the Redskins.
