The first game of the 2020 season was a forgettable one for Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore. In addition to only catching four of his nine targets from Teddy Bridgewater and dropping a couple of them, Moore was flagged for an unsportsman like conduct penalty when he pushed Raiders defensive back Lamarcus Joyner in the helmet and face area.
That poor decision wound up costing more than just field position in what turned out to be a four-point loss. According to a report by Joe Person at the Athletic, the NFL has fined Moore $10,000 for the penalty.
Panthers WR DJ Moore was fined $10,000 for pushing Raiders SB Lamarcus Joyner in the helmet in Week 1, per source.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) September 26, 2020
It was an uncharacteristic move by the usually quiet Moore.
The good news is No. 12 bounced back in Week 2 against the Buccaneers, catching eight of 13 targets and totaling 120 yards. Moore’s catch rate for the season (54.5%) is a little concerning, but the sample size is too small to really worry. He’s almost 10 points higher for his career.
Next up, Moore will have to prove himself against the toughest secondary these Panthers have faced so far. It will be interesting to see who the Chargers assign to cover him.
