Week 9 of the NFL season concluded with 15 Maryland football alumni seeing the field.
Washington Commanders safety Nick Cross had a strong game despite a 20-13 loss against the Los Angeles Rams.
Cross made eight tackles, defended three passes, recovered a fumble and had a third-quarter interception against Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Sunday marked the 25-year-old’s first created turnover of a season riddled by injuries thus far.
The Bowie, Maryland, native has just played in five games, spending
time sidelined due to an undisclosed internal injury and illness. He missed roughly a month this season, absent from the field from Sept. 20 until Oct. 19.
Since returning, he has 19 tackles and has cemented himself as a key piece in Washington’s secondary.
Cross’ interception also came at a timely moment Sunday. He caught the intended pass to receiver Puka Nacua on the Rams’ 27-yard line. That stop turned into a game-tying 41-yard field goal for the Commanders.
Washington will look to save its season on the road now at 2-5-1. It will play the New York Giants Thursday night at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime.
2026 alumni
– Jacksonville Jaguars safety Jalen Huskey played 24 snaps against the Baltimore Ravens. Huskey played 10 snaps on defense, with eight total coming on run plays.
Midseason snapshot: Three tackles and one sack split between 53 total snaps on defense and special teams.
– Offensive lineman Alan Herron was re-signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad on Oct. 27. Herron was released from the Saints on Oct. 16. The undrafted free agent was not elevated to the active roster through the first nine weeks of the season.
Players
– Buffalo Bills wide receiver DJ Moore caught three passes for 25 yards on five targets against the Minnesota Vikings. Moore also rushed for 11 yards on one carry in the backfield.
Midseason snapshot: 19 catches on 32 targets, 285 yards and two touchdowns. In the run game, four carries for 20 yards.
– Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips made six tackles against the Detroit Lions.
Midseason snapshot: 24 tackles, three quarterback hurries, two hits, and 2.5 run stuffs in 294 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
– Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still made five tackles against the Houston Texans.
Midseason snapshot: 30 tackles, four defended passes, one forced fumble and an interception in 481 defensive snaps.
– Giants cornerback Deonte Banks made four tackles against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Midseason snapshot: 24 tackles and one interception returned for a touchdown in 378 defensive snaps.
– Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo caught six passes on seven targets for 57 yards against the Rams.
Midseason snapshot: 23 catches on 31 targets, 239 receiving yards and two fumbles in six games.
– Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs caught three passes on five targets for 51 yards against the Rams.
Midseason snapshot: 30 catches on 49 targets, 303 receiving yards and five touchdowns in seven games.
– Dolphins safety Dante Trader Jr. made two tackles against the Lions.
Midseason snapshot: 39 tackles, one interception and one quarterback hit in 404 snaps.
– Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland made one 28-yard field goal against the Seattle Seahawks. He covered three extra points.
Midseason snapshot: 20-for-22 on field goals, 90.9% accuracy. 16-for-17 on extra points.
– Atlanta Falcons linebacker Josh Woods played 20 special teams snaps against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Midseason snapshot: 15 tackles and one run stuff in 91 defensive snaps. 200 snaps have been spent on special teams.
– Bills running back Ty Johnson caught two passes on two targets for 36 yards against the Vikings.
Midseason snapshot: 17 catches on 17 targets, 210 receiving yards. Seven carries for 11 yards in the run game.
– Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman DJ Glaze received a 57.2 overall blocking grade from PFF against the San Francisco 49ers. Glaze played 50 offensive snaps, allowing one quarterback hit and pressure on Kirk Cousins.
Midseason snapshot: 66.8% overall blocking grade, per PFF. One allowed sack, four quarterback hits, eight hurries and 13 pressures in 592 total snaps.
– Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Corey Bullock played four snaps against the Denver Broncos. He was questionable entering Sunday after suffering a quad injury in Week 8. Bullock had started last week in place of left guard Damien Lewis.
Midseason snapshot: 73.6% overall blocking grade, according to PFF. One allowed sack, five quarterback hurries, six pressures in 162 offensive snaps.
– Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton played 19 snaps against the Bills. Six were spent on offense, but he wasn’t targeted by quarterback Carson Wentz.
Midseason snapshot: Three catches on seven targets for 41 receiving yards in 140 offensive snaps in eight games. Felton has played 79 additional snaps on special teams.
– Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones did not play any snaps against the Bills.
Midseason snapshot: One catch on one target for 32 yards and nine snaps in two games. Jones has played 22 additional special teams snaps.
– Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Spencer Anderson had a Week 9 bye.
Midseason snapshot: 134 offensive line snaps. One allowed sack, four hurries and five pressures. 60.1% overall blocking grade from PFF.
Practice squad & injured reserve
– Cornerback Jakorian Bennett was signed to the Panthers practice squad on Nov. 5. Bennett was released by the Eagles on Nov. 3. He has not played this season due to a preseason knee injury. The Eagles activated his 21-day practice window on Oct. 14, but he was never added to the active roster after seven straight full practices.
– Cincinnati Bengals safety Beau Brade remained on the practice squad for Week 9. Brade joined the team in September but has not been elevated this season.
– Commanders defensive tackle Byron Cowart remained on the practice squad for Week 9. He was elevated in Week 8 against the Eagles and played 11 snaps.
– Chargers offensive lineman Josh Kaltenberger remained on the practice squad for Week 9. He has not been elevated to the active roster this season.
– San Francisco 49ers defensive end Sam Okuayinonu remained on injured reserve due to September foot surgery. The team is hoping for a late season return.
Other notes
– Offensive lineman Gottlieb Ayedze was released from the Dolphins practice squad on Oct. 30. Ayedze was not elevated to the active roster through seven games. He is now a free agent.
– Former two-year Terps wide receiver Nick DeGennaro remained on the Commanders practice squad in Week 9.
– Longtime Terps running back Roman Hemby remained on the Raiders practice squad in Week 9. Hemby was elevated once in Week 5 but did not play.
– Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II was released from the Chicago Bears in September. Hyppolite suffered a shoulder injury during preseason play and had surgery in September. He remains a free agent.
Week 10 of the NFL season begins Thursday with the Commanders at Giants.
