Terps in the NFL: Ty Johnson notches new career-high in receiving yards

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

Week 15 of the NFL season featured big plays from former Maryland football players on offense, defense and special teams.

Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson put together one of the best games of his six-year NFL career Sunday, while only carrying the ball twice in Buffalo’s 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions.

Playing at Detroit — the team that drafted him in 2019 — Johnson was a force in the passing game, finishing with five catches for a career-high 114 yards.

Johnson’s 114 receiving yards paced the Bills and surpassed his previous game-high of 71.

In 86 career games, Sunday was the first outing Johnson led his team in receiving yards, while his five catches were the most he has produced in an NFL game since December 2022.

While Johnson made an impact offensively in Buffalo’s win this weekend, Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still and Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross each contributed in losses for their respective teams.

For the second time this season, both Still and Cross pulled in an interception during the same week.

Still’s pick came during an important moment in the Chargers’ 40-17 loss versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tied at 10 points midway through the second quarter, Still undercut a midfield play-action pass intended for star wide receiver Mike Evans. He plucked the chest-high pass out of the air and returned it 18 yards. It was his team-leading fourth interception of the season.

Still also posted six tackles and a pass deflection against the Buccaneers.

Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross also had an interception in what turned out to be a lopsided loss. Before the Denver Broncos beat the Colts, 31-13, Cross snagged a third-quarter interception down the near sideline, a takeaway that kept the Colts in control with a 13-10 lead.

Cross’ interception was his third of the season, which leads all Colts defenders.

Like Johnson, Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland played well on Sunday against the NFL team that drafted him.

Ryland, a 2023 fourth-round pick by New England, made all six of his kicks this weekend in a 30-17 win over the Patriots. Ryland hit from 49, 35 and 40 yards in the win, marking his third game this season with three-or-more field goals.

Factoring in his 3-of-3-day on extra point attempts as well, Ryland scored 10 of Arizona’s first 16 points against New England.

Other players

• Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo posted a career-high eight catches on 10 targets for 59 yards.
• Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore recorded 46 receiving yards on a game-high eight catches on Monday Night Football.
• Jacksonville Jaguars safety Darnell Savage Jr. made five tackles and tied a season-high with two pass deflections against the New York Jets.
• Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs remained inactive after being placed on injured reserve for a torn ACL.
• Chicago Bears defensive tackle Byron Cowart made two tackles.
• Las Vegas Raiders right tackle D.J. Glaze started his 11th straight game this season.
• New England Patriots defensive end Yannick Ngakoue tallied a season-high two solo tackles.
• San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Sam Okuayinonu made two tackles on Thursday Night Football.
• Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson assisted on a tackle.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Rakim Jarrett played but was held without a catch for the third straight week.
• Baltimore Ravens rookie safety Beau Brade came in as a reserve against the New York Giants.
• Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Spencer Anderson saw game action against the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Cleveland Browns guard Michael Dunn played against the Kansas City Chiefs.
• New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks was inactive against the Baltimore Ravens, nursing a rib injury.
• Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett remained on injured reserve.
• Seattle Seahawks tight end Tyler Mabry remained on the team’s practice squad.