The Bills got an early look at DJ Moore on Saturday, and for a few snaps, it was exactly what Buffalo hoped to see. Then came the moment that had the entire fan base waiting on an update.
Moore, making his preseason debut with Buffalo against the Panthers, turned three catches into 61 yards before leaving with what appeared to be an ankle injury in the first half. After speaking with Bills trainers, he was seen walking around the sideline, but the concern was immediate given how important he is to the offense.
Buffalo landed Moore in March, sending a 2026 second-round pick to the Bears in a deal that also brought back a 2026 fifth-round pick. The move reunited Moore with Bills coach Joe Brady, who previously served as his offensive coordinator with the Panthers.
The trade came after a rough 2025 season in Chicago, when Moore caught 50 passes for 682 yards and six touchdowns. That was a sharp dip from two seasons ago, when he topped 1,300 receiving yards for the Bears and showed the kind of ceiling Buffalo was betting on.
Durability has been one of Moore’s calling cards, too. Since entering the NFL in 2018, he has played in 131 games and hasn’t missed one since the 2020 season.
For now, the Bills are waiting to see whether this is a minor setback or something more. An update on Moore’s status is expected in the coming days, with Week 1 against the Houston Texans looming.
In Other News...
Panthers Offense Gave Fans Plenty To Worry About Saturday
Saturdays preseason game against the Bills offered the kind of early look the Panthers would rather forget on offense. The starting unit was on the field for just nine plays and never got a conversion going, with limited yardage and an overall rhythm that never really materialized. Missing Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt along the offensive line didnt help, and the group was forced to deal with pressure in the pocket and little room to work on the ground.
There were some unavoidable growing pains with new faces getting their first NFL snaps up front, but the bigger concern was how disconnected the whole operation looked. The play-calling never found a groove, and the absence of Chuba Hubbard only added to the questions about backfield depth. For a team trying to build some confidence heading into the season, it was the sort of showing that leaves more worry than reassurance. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Preseason Opener Exposed An Early Concern Behind Robert Hunt And Damien Lewis
The Panthers preseason opener against the Bills did not do much to ease concerns about the depth behind their starting guards, and the spotlight quickly shifted to the backup options trying to hold up the middle of the line. Brady Christensen was back on the field after a torn Achilles, which gives his uneven debut some context, while Chandler Zavala also had a rough night as Carolina tried to sort out what it has behind Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt.
For a team that wants to feel better about its protection and run game, the bigger issue is how fragile the guard picture could look if either starter misses time. Analysts Mike Kaye and Jared Feinberg both pointed to the same basic problem: the Panthers need more from the players tasked with backing up Lewis and Hunt, because the drop-off was hard to ignore in the preseason opener. [Read more 🡒]
Darren Waller Just Put One Panthers Offensive Question In Focus
The Panthers have added a familiar name to a position that has not been central to their passing game in recent seasons, signing veteran tight end Darren Waller as they continue reshaping the offense around new coordinator Brad Idzik. Waller brings a proven resume, including a Pro Bowl nod in 2020, and arrives as a player who has already moved through several NFL stops before landing in Carolina.
What makes the move interesting is less the name value than the fit. The Panthers have used tight ends in only a modest way lately, so Wallers presence naturally raises the question of how much of a role Idzik wants to carve out for him. If Carolina is going to get a real boost from the signing, the answer to that usage question will matter as much as anything Waller has done before. [Read more 🡒]