Terps in the NFL: Tarheeb Still scores first career touchdown

Here’s how former Maryland football players performed in the NFL this past week.

Week 13 of the NFL season overlapped with Thanksgiving this year, and many teams were thankful for the big plays Maryland football alums made for them this week.

Sunday’s matchup at the Atlanta Falcons was a career day and then some for Los Angeles Chargers rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still. The 2023 All-Big Ten second-team selection became the first Charger in more than three years to have multiple interceptions in a game, picking off Kirk Cousins twice in a 17-13 win.

Still’s big day started in the second quarter when he was positioned in zone coverage, undercutting and intercepting a deep pass intended for wide receiver Drake London.

Then, after halftime, Still made the biggest play of his career thus far to win Los Angeles the game. With the Chargers down 10-9 in the final minutes of the third quarter, Still snagged a pass out of the air on the right sideline. Intercepting the ball at the Chargers 39-yard line, Still didn’t break stride with space in front of him for a 61-yard pick-six.

In 30 career games played at Maryland, Still’s only multi-interception game came last September in the Terps’ 42-14 win over Virginia.

Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore also returned to form this week, making an impact in Chicago’s heartbreaking 23-20 divisional loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

Against Detroit, Moore finished with a game-high eight catches for 97 yards and a 31-yard touchdown for Chicago’s final score of the afternoon.

Moore, who is tied with Keenan Allen for a team-high five receiving touchdowns this year, has led the Bears in receiving yards in back-to-back games.

Like Still, Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland had his best day as a professional in Week 13.

In a 23-22 loss at the Minnesota Vikings, Ryland made a career-high five field goals on six attempts, making all except a 45-yard miss early in the second quarter.

Ryland never made more than three field goals in a game during his lone 2022 season at Maryland, but became the first Cardinal to hit five or more in one outing since Phil Dawson in 2017.

Other players

• Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs remained inactive after being placed on season-ending IR for a torn ACL.
• Chicago Bears defensive tackle Byron Cowart tied a career-high with four tackles in his 46th career game played.
• Jacksonville Jaguars safety Darnell Savage Jr. made a season-high seven tackles.
• Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo caught three of his six targets for 27 yards.
• Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson had 28 rushing yards, while tying a career high with five carries. Johnson also added a 9-yard reception.
• Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross made nine tackles.
• Las Vegas Raiders right tackle D.J. Glaze started his ninth game this season.
• San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Sam Okuayinonu, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson and New England Patriots defensive end Yannick Ngakoue all recorded two tackles.
• Cleveland Browns guard Michael Dunn saw five special teams snaps on Monday Night football.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Rakim Jarrett played but was held without a catch against the Carolina Panthers.
• Baltimore Ravens rookie safety Beau Brade played but didn’t record a stat against the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Spencer Anderson played against the Cincinnati Bengals.
• New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks didn’t play.
• Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett remained on injured reserve after being placed on it Thursday with a shoulder injury.
• Seattle Seahawks tight end Tyler Mabry remained on the team’s practice squad.