DJ Moore posts 5/100/1, leaves late in game

Moore was officially listed as limited after wearing a red non-contact jersey in practice. He left the Bills’ Week 2 game last Thursday and did not return with this shoulder injury. It’s a good sign that he is practicing but the non-contact jersey indicates Moore still has a ways to go before being cleared to play Week 3 against the Chargers.

Moore is believed to have suffered an AC joint sprain in Week 2. He left in the first half after landing on his shoulder and did not return. His status for Week 3 remains up in the air, but an immediate return to practice would be a good sign. He got off to a hot start in Week 1 with 100 yards and a touchdown before being shut out in his brief Week 2 showing. The extra rest between Thursday’s game and Buffalo’s upcoming matchup with the Chargers will hopefully be enough to get more back on the field.

This is already shaping up to be an injury that will be monitored throughout all of next week. Moore is believed to have suffered an AC joint sprain in the Bills’ Week 2 win over the Lions, and while the injury isn’t considered serious, sources familiar with the situation haven’t ruled out the possibility that he’ll miss at least one game. Moore was held without a catch on Thursday after catching five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Moore’s absence could open the door for Keon Coleman to see more work. Coleman played on 55 snaps against the Lions after playing on just 29 in Week 1, and caught all six of his targets for 63 yards.

Moore departed with just over three minutes remaining in the second quarter after appearing to injure his shoulder on a diving attempt in the end zone. He remained on the field for multiple minutes before being helped to the sideline with trainers. He went straight to the locker room under his own power, presumably for testing. The team has yet to release an official designation, although it appears unlikely he will return to the game. Moore was not targeted before departing as the play he was injured on was called back for an offensive hold.

Buscaglia called Moore, who was acquired from the Bears this spring, the “crown jewel of the offseason” for the Bills front office. “Moore’s contributions to the offense within training camp were immediate and obvious,” Buscaglia said. “Allen routinely pushed the ball downfield to Moore, making a concerted effort all summer to build on-field chemistry with the Bills’ new No. 1 receiver. ... The days of ‘everybody eats’ seem to be in the rearview mirror.” It’s a bullish report — one that could mean Moore is among the best values in redraft leagues this season even after being among the NFL’s most inefficient wideouts in 2025. Moore should be in all 12-team lineups for Week 1 against the Texans.

Moore had his ankle rolled up on late in the fourth quarter and could be seen working with trainers on the sideline. Despite the scare, Moore told Brady after the game that he was “good to go,” suggesting there won’t be much to worry about going forward. Moore was impressive in his Bills debut, catching 3-of-4 targets for 61 yards in limited action.

Moore’s first reception of the day came on a shallow crossing route that he turned upfield for a 32-yard gain. The new No. 1 target for Josh Allen would later haul in passes of 11 and 18 yards, but left the game with an apparent right ankle injury after having his leg rolled up on by a defender. Moore walked off under his own power and appeared in good spirits on the sideline, but we’ll likely get a better sense of his status after the game. Moore only ran six routes in this one, but his usage was very encouraging. It wouldn’t be surprising if we saw his ADP jump up a bit as a result of this strong first showing.

Moore sort of bumbled his way through a status check from Buffalo News’ Katherine Fitzgerald. Initially, the veteran wide receiver said things are “going good,” before talking his way into an up-and-down write-up. Growing pains are expected, especially in the spring, but we sure hope Moore tells us things really are “perfect” a few weeks from now. Moore, 29, has a chance to resume operating as a clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver with his new team. The Bills have lacked a difference-making perimeter threat for years. If he can master the playbook, a stable WR3 season could be in play for him.

Taken by Buffalo with the 125th pick in the 2026 draft, Bell — a hyper-productive wideout at UConn — joins DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, and Keon Coleman in an underwhelming receivers room. Bell, Helman said, enters the NFL with a multifaceted skill set that is highly valued among most NFL front offices. “This is probably the most reckless thing I’ll say on this show,” Helman said. “This is Ja’Marr Chase lite. He’s a freak athlete, he’s explosive, but he’s very powerful and strong. And watching him, I was just like, obviously, he’s not Ja’Marr Chase ... but he does all that type of stuff. He can take it to the house. He can just body people out of the way. He can high point the ball. If I was trying to get Ja’Marr Chase’s skillset on late day two or even into day three, I’m all the way in on this guy.” Helman wasn’t alone in his praise of Bell, who last season was second among all college wideouts in yards per route run. Ryan Fowler of NBC Sports Philadelphia said in March that Bell, 23, was close to a Round One prospect. The Bills took him late on the third day of the draft.

He points out that Moore and Caleb Williams didn’t jive early in the season because Williams wasn’t delivering on-time passes often enough early in the year, and then Moore became less emphasized in their offense later in the season. We mostly believe in his film study, and the contract and cost all point to Moore being the focal point of the passing game in 2026. We’d bet he enters the fantasy WR3 sphere for sure and wouldn’t be surprised if WR2 production was on the table.