Terps in the NFL: Season Preview
9/7/2022 11:09:00 AM | Football
We had the combine in March, where Nick Cross and Chigoziem Oknonkwo blew up... the NFL Draft in April, where both of them were drafted... mini camp, OTAs and training camp, and now here we are... Week One of the NFL season. Where Stefon Diggs and the AFC favorite Buffalo Bills will take on Jake Funk and the reigning Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams will open up the 2022 Season on Thursday night.
And of course, we have a handful of Terps in new places. And some Terps that signed big contract extensions.
Let's get into it in the first 2022 edition of Terps in the NFL!
The Guys on New Teams
A few Terps will play for new teams in 2022, starting with 2021 All-Pro J.C. Jackson who signed a five-year, 82.5 million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.Chargers are giving former Patriots' CB JC Jackson a five-year, $82.5 million deal that invoices $40 million guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2022
.@MR_INT ➡️ LA 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Gr3lf9W4WI
— NFL (@NFL) March 14, 2022
STACCCKKKKEDDD.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) March 16, 2022
we've agreed to terms w @MR_INT + @SJD_51 + @AJOHN15 » https://t.co/aGnCx9MRHp pic.twitter.com/dKqWjThuB6
YALL WANT IT?? rt ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/hmDShSD5YJ
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) March 18, 2022
The two Terps who spent 2021 in Las Vegas, Quinton Jefferson and Yannick Ngakoue will play for different teams in 2022. Q in Seattle and Yannick in Indy.California Love @MR_INT 💰 pic.twitter.com/eUcBvNPH3d
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) March 24, 2022
The #Seahawks are bringing back an old friend: DT Quinton Jefferson, who spent last year with the #Raiders, is signing back with Seattle.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2022
Elite consistency. pic.twitter.com/Knm89De595
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 21, 2022
Ready to eat 🍴#ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/RGvk7l3aWs
— Yannick Ngakoue (@YannickNgakoue) July 29, 2022
Yannick has also been very involved in the community this offseason."I just feel like this is home to me. This is different."@YannickNgakoue has had an overwhelming response to his school drive on Twitter. Says teachers are the "biggest superheroes," and as a kid who rotated b/n two pairs of pants, he wants to give back to Indy's kids. #Colts pic.twitter.com/WbGTDHCUHg
— Angela Moryan (@SidelineStormer) August 8, 2022
.@YannickNgakoue is supporting single-parent families in DC, donating to @EveryoneHomeDC for relocation expenses resulting from domestic violence.
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) May 20, 2022
"It's a special time to give back & I feel like it's my calling to help out single moms, especially from my city." #CommunityMVP pic.twitter.com/TXmz9Su4CH
Yannick isn't the only Terp moving to Indy, as Byron Cowart will play for the Colts in 2022 as well..@YannickNgakoue spent his day off hosting youth from @CoburnPlace to a Back-To-School shopping spree at @meijer! 💙 pic.twitter.com/Mq4MXOxQk2
— Colts Community (@coltscommunity) July 31, 2022
Colts claimed former Patriots' DT Byron Cowart off waivers.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 23, 2022
The Rooks
Nick Cross: Starting Safety.In the Colts Week One Depth Chart released this week, Nick Cross was listed as the starting strong safety for Terp alum Frank Reich's team.
Cross has impressed during training camp.As expected, rookie Nick Cross will be the Colts' starting strong safety for Week 1 in Houston. Veteran Rodney McLeod had also been battling for the role.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) September 6, 2022
Cross, a third-round pick last spring, will turn 21 years old on Saturday, then make his NFL debut a day later.
He will become one of the youngest NFL players ever to start a game on Sunday when the Colts take on the Texans. Quite the age difference from Tom Brady.Colts coach Frank Reich on rookie S Nick Cross, who turns 21 on Saturday:
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 5, 2022
"Not your typical 21-year-old. … This guy's incredibly mature in a lot of ways, and I don't get that from just talking to him b/c he's kinda of a quiet guy. But you watch his habits … he's different."
Chig Okonkwo has also stood out during Titans camp and will start the season as Tennessee's second-string tight end.Nick Cross born: Sept 10 2001
— Colts Militia (@coltsmilitia_) August 28, 2022
Tom Brady drafted: April 16 2000
😳😳 #colts pic.twitter.com/c2uE6JJr5r
Chig scores. @ChigTweets. Chig does it all.
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 21, 2022
📺: Watch #TBvsTEN on @WKRN pic.twitter.com/6GkqtW2kLi
Sam Okuayinonu, the other Terps rookie on a roster, will start 2022 on the Titans Practice Squad.🎯 @ryantannehill1 ➡️ @ChigTweets pic.twitter.com/6enqDTHOR9
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 24, 2022
Huge congrats to Maryland Men's Lacrosse legend Jared Bernhardt on making the Atlanta Falcons 53-man roster as well.Seal it ✔️
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 28, 2022
Celebrate it ✔️@okuayinonu | #Titans pic.twitter.com/Na63g0x5r8
JB1 ➡️ JB83
— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) August 30, 2022
What an awesome story as Jared Bernhardt makes the Falcons initial 53-man roster! pic.twitter.com/GHtQ6EspcI
The Vets
The two star Terp wide receivers in the NFL both signed contract extensions this offseason.Stefon Diggs: four years, $96 million.
Stefon Diggs, Bills reach agreement on 4-year, $96M extensionhttps://t.co/xzuDPA94PY pic.twitter.com/O9zdSMhfT7
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) April 6, 2022
DJ Moore: three years, $62 million.Stefon Diggs with a message of thanks for the #Bills and #BillsMafia after today's contract extension. pic.twitter.com/2vMGn9Ck7f
— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) April 6, 2022
Other Terps on the staying on the same squad for 2022Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore has agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $61.88M, including $41.61M guaranteed, a source tells @jeffphowe. pic.twitter.com/IEEaBs3Kim
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) March 18, 2022
- Darnell Savage in Green Bay
- Michael Dunn in Cleveland
- Ty Johnson with the Jets
- Josh Woods in Detroit
Week 1 Primer
We officially have 14 Terps on active rosters in Week One (with four more on Practice Squads). Here's where to watch them in Week One.Thursday, September 8
8:20 p.m.
- Stefon Diggs and the Buffalo Bills travel to LA to face Jake Funk and the Rams to open the season, on NBC
1:00 p.m.
- Jared Bernhardt and the Atlanta Falcons will open their season at home against New Orleans, on FOX
- Josh Woods and the Detroit Lions host the Eagles to begin 2022, on FOX
- Ty Johnson and the New York Jets welcome to the Ravens, on CBS
- Michael Dunn and the Cleveland Browns travel to face DJ Moore and the Carolina Panthers, on CBS
- Nick Cross will make his NFL debut alongside Yannick Ngakoue and Byron Cowart in Houston against the Texans, on CBS
- DJ Moore, Jermaine Carter Jr. and the Carolina Panthers finish off 2021 in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers, on CBS
- Chig Okonkwo will begin his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans at home against the New York Giants, on FOX
- Darnell Savage and the Green Bay Packers open up at division rival Minnesota, on FOX
- J.C. Jackson and the Los Angeles Chargers host the Las Vegas Raiders, on CBS
8:15 p.m.
- Quinton Jefferson and the Seattle Seahawks will play on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos, on ESPN
