Week 15: Jaylin Lane, Washington Commanders

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Washington Commanders punt returner Jaylin Lane, a rookie who played at Virginia Tech, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his second punt return for a touchdown this season sparked the Commanders to a 29-21 win over the New York Giants, ending their eight-game losing streak.

Lane’s 63-yard punt return shifted the momentum late in the first half and helped Washington regain control of the game. He became the fifth player in franchise history to return multiple punts for a touchdown in one season, the first to accomplish the feat since Brian Mitchell in 1994.

“J-Lane, big play bro!” Coach Dan Quinn shouted as tossed a commemorative game ball to Lane in the postgame locker room.

Lane was selected by the Commanders in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He ranks fourth on the team with 16 catches for 225 yards, but his biggest impact has been on special teams, averaging 14.3 yards per punt return.

“My goals for this year was to dominate my role – receiver, returner, whatever role I’m given – and help us win games,” Lane said.

Lane was still clutching the game ball during a postgame news conference and explaining that Quinn had presented the ball to him.

“It was pretty cool,” Lane said. “I’m probably going to give it to my pops.”

Week 14: Olu Oluwatimi, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi, who played at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his strong performance helped the Seahawks move one step closer to a playoff berth.

After a lackluster first half, the Seahawks scored 31 points in the second half and routed the Atlanta Falcons, 37-9, for their seventh win in eight games. Seattle (10-3) is tied with the Los Angeles Rams for first place in the NFC West Division.

Oluwatimi made his fourth consecutive start at center and the Seahawks rushed for 129 yards while allowing quarterback Sam Darnold to be sacked just once.

“He’s definitely been an asset for us,” Seattle Coach Mike Macdonald told reporters following the team’s 26-0 recent win over Minnesota. “He’s playing physical. He’s playing decisive, and he’s getting us to the right targets. He’s doing a lot of good things. It has to be a cohesive effort, the run game. Everyone’s got to be on the same page, and it starts with him. He’s definitely a driving force behind how we’re playing.”

Week 13: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who had missed seven of the team’s previous eight games because of injuries, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after he returned to the lineup and nearly helped the Commanders topple the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos.

McLaurin, who was supposed to be on a limited snap count, turned in a gutty performance. He caught seven passes for 96 yards, including a three-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal in overtime that pulled the Commanders within one point. Their subsequent two-point attempt was unsuccessful, allowing the Broncos to escape with their ninth consecutive win, 27-26.

“No matter what the record is, no matter what the score is, I just come out and give my all,” McLaurin said. “Just to come out and make plays and be trusted by my teammates is the ultimate.”

It has been a frustrating season for McLaurin, who had posted more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the previous five seasons. He held out of training camp before signing a three-year, $96 million contract extension. But McLaurin was injured Sept. 21 against Las Vegas and returned Oct. 27 against Kansas City only to be reinjured in that game.

Back in the lineup Sunday night, McLaurin was supposed to be limited to 25 plays, but he later told reporters he knew he could and would play more if the game was close.

“He’s a special player,” Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota said. “The more that we can get him the rock, he’s going to make plays for us.”

Week 12: DJ Moore, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore, who starred at the University of Maryland, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his best game of the season helped the Bears to their fourth consecutive win as they remained atop the NFC North Division.

Moore caught five passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns this past Sunday as the Bears beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-28. His five-yard touchdown pass from three-time Touchdown Club Player of the Week Caleb Williams opened the scoring. Chicago trailed 21-17 at halftime, but Moore’s 25-yard touchdown catch midway through the third quarter put the Bears back on top for good.

“Obviously, to get DJ going and having two touchdowns is big for our confidence as our relationship goes this year and having one of our star guys get going, it only builds momentum as a team,” Williams said. “It was good to see that, good to get him in the end zone a couple times. I know he’s been wanting that.”

Moore, a first-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2018, is now in his eighth season in the NFL, third with the Bears.

Week 11: Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson, who played at the University of Maryland, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his long touchdown pass helped the Bills win for the third time in four weeks.

Johnson, now in his seventh season in the NFL and third with the Bills, took a short pass to the left and burst through the defense and down the sideline for a 52-yard touchdown in the final minute of the first half. He finished with two catches for 61 yards and one rush for nine yards as the Bills beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 44-32, this past Sunday.

Johnson began his career with the Detroit Lions after being selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He moved to the New York Jets during the 2020 season and was signed by the Bills prior to the 2023 season.

Johnson last season played in all 17 games with one start, finishing with 41 carries for 213 yards and 18 catches for 284 yards and scoring four touchdowns. This past offseason, he signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension with Buffalo.

Week 10: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who starred at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player for the second consecutive week and the third time this season after his late-game heroics led the surging Bears to their sixth win in seven games.

With Chicago trailing the New York Giants by 10 points late in the fourth quarter, Williams threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Rome Odunze with 3 minutes 56 seconds left. The Bears defense forced a punt and Williams drove the Bears for the winning touchdown, scrambling 17 yards for the decisive touchdown with 1:47 left as Chicago pulled out a 24-20 win over the visiting Giants.

Williams finished 20 of 36 passing for 220 yards and and rushed eight times for 63 yards as Chicago improved to 6-3.

“He’s got ice in his veins now,” Bears Coach Ben Johnson said as he presented a game ball to Williams in the jubilant locker room after the game. “If you don’t believe it now, you just wait. The best is yet to come.”

Williams was the Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Year in 2023 and the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Week 9: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who starred at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player for the second time this season after another strong performance led the Bears to a thrilling victory.

Williams completed 20 of 34 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-winning, 58-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colston Loveland with 17 seconds left as the Bears beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 47-42.

The touchdown capped a wild finish, following two touchdowns in 49 seconds by the Bengals, as they turned a 14-point deficit into a 42-41 lead with :54 left.

“We knew it was going to be a shootout, it was going to be one of those games,” Williams said.

Williams also rushed five times for 53 yards and notched the first touchdown catch of his career, a two-yard score on a fourth down trick play in the first quarter.

Williams was the Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Year in 2023 and the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He had gone two games without a touchdown pass, but Sunday’s thrilling victory put the Bears at 5-3 and on track for their first playoff appearance in five years.

Week 8: Mack Hollins, New England Patriots

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins, who played at Wootton High School in Rockville, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Player of the Week after his best performance of the season helped the Patriots to a lopsided win.

Hollins, in his ninth NFL season and first with New England, caught a team-high seven passes for 89 yards as the Patriots beat the Cleveland Browns, 32-13.

It was quite a day for Hollins, who arrived to the stadium dressed for Halloween, wearing a costume that made him look like the bishop on a chess board. It was just one more way for Hollins to express himself; he has one of the more unique social media profiles among NFL players, using his Instagram account to share challenges, kitchen hacks and more.

“Education has always been the center,” Hollins said. “I know I have a platform where people will listen to what I’m saying. So I hope I can be educational. Football only lasts so long. While I’m playing football … I’m able to reach a lot of people and hopefully I can inspire them.”

Week 7: Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross, who played at DeMatha Catholic High School and the University of Maryland, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week for the second time this season after his terrific play helped the Colts to their third consecutive win, 38-24 over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Cross, enjoying a terrific season, made six tackles and snagged his first interception of the season – picking off a Justin Herbert pass in the end zone late in the first half – as the Colts remained atop the AFC South Division.

Now in his fourth year in the NFL, Cross was selected by the Colts in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He moved into a starting role last season and has excelled. He made 133 tackles and intercepted five passes last season. He has 53 tackles already this season and seems to have positioned himself for a healthy contract extension.

Week 6: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who starred at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after a successful homecoming as he led the Bears to a 25-24 victory over the Washington Commanders on Monday night.

Williams, the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, completed 17 of 29 passes for 252 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for a touchdown as the Bears rallied from a 24-16 deficit in the fourth quarter. Following a Washington turnover with less than three minutes remaining, Williams drove the Bears into position to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired.

It was Chicago’s third consecutive victory.

“It felt great — back in my hometown and being able to come out with a win like that is big for us, big for us as an offense,” Williams told reporters after the game. “That’s a hell of a team over there. Being able to come out victorious in a dogfight where things weren’t perfect, weather wasn’t perfect, being able to come out victorious is big for us.”

Week 5: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

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Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after the best game of his young career helped the visiting Commanders beat the Los Angeles Chargers, 27-10, on Sunday.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Croskey-Merritt had made a quick impression with his hard, physical running. He earned a role in the Commanders’ rotation of running backs and grabbed the spotlight on Sunday.

Croskey-Merrit -- who goes by the nickname Bill, because as a kid he looked like the cartoon character Little Bill – carried 14 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns (all career highs) as quarterback Jayden Daniels returned and the Commanders got back in the win column.

“Obviously, I’ve got a lot of work to do, but I feel like this is just the beginning,” Croskey-Merritt said. “There is a lot more I want to show. I think I showed I can make plays when my name is called and be the best team player I can be.”

It was Croskey-Merritt’s performance in the preseason that helped persuade the team that previous starter Brian Robinson was expendable and he was traded to San Francisco. Croskey-Merritt rushed 10 times for 82 yards and one touchdown in the season opener, earning NFL Rookie of the Week honors.

A fan favorite at home games, Croskey-Merritt has come a long way in a short period of time. He played his first three seasons of college football at Alabama State, then spent one year at New Mexico. He transferred to Arizona for his final season in 2024, but was limited to just one game after questions rose after how many games he played during his redshirt season at Alabama State, which said that another player took Croskey-Merritt’s No. 21 jersey while he was sitting out.

Instead of getting a senior season to showcase himself, Croskey-Merritt had to shine in practice and hope his performance there could persuade NFL scouts to take a chance on him. With veteran Austin Ekeler out with an injury, the Commanders have rotated Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. as their running backs.

Croskey-Merritt lost a fumble on the opening play of the fourth quarter Sunday, but otherwise was spectacular as the Commanders erased an early 10-0 deficit and scored the game’s final 27 points.

“We’ll continue to build and see where we take it from here,” Washington Coach Dan Quinn said. But the more effective you can run it, the more play-action passes come alive.”

Week 4: Jamie Gillan, New York Giants

New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan, who played at Leonardtown High School, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his terrific play helped the Giants beat the Los Angeles Chargers, 21-18, for their first victory this season.

In his seventh NFL season, Gillan played a large role Sunday in helping the Giants maintain an edge in field possession.

He averaged 48.8 yards on three punts, including three that landed inside the Chargers’ 20-yard line. Gillan also boomed a 68-yard punt from the back of his own end zone in the middle of the third quarter, preventing Los Angeles from having a short field to try for the go-ahead score.

Gillan, who grew up in Scotland, was more of a rugby player growing up. His family moved to Southern Maryland because his father is in Royal Air Force and had an assignment as an exchange officer at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. But he joined the Leonardtown football team midway through his senior year of high school and got a last-second scholarship offer to play collegiately at Arkansas-Pine Bluff after a friend saw the team post on Facebook that it needed a kicker.

Undrafted out of college, Gillan signed with the Cleveland Browns and played three seasons there. He then joined the Giants and is now in his fourth season with the team, having signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract this past offseason.

Week 3: Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders

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Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his stout play led the Commanders to a 41-24 win over the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

A 14-year NFL veteran who spent nearly all of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, Wagner joined the Commanders prior to last season and immediately made an impact as an experienced leader. An 11-time All-Pro selection who has led the league in tackles in three seasons, Wagner has shown he has plenty of football left.

On Sunday, he made 11 tackles and had two sacks, leading the way for a defense that held the Raiders to just 10 points in the first three quarters as the Commanders built a comfortable lead.

“We wanted to be aggressive,” Wagner said. “We understood that we have really good, talented players. [Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.] did a good job of sending us and mixing up coverages. We had a good game plan.”

It was a welcome victory after having 10 days since the Commanders’ first loss of the season.

“It sucks to lose a game like that on Thursday, because you have so much time to sit and think about it,” Wagner said. “You go back to the drawing board. You know that’s not the team we want to be or the team that we are. And you try to correct those mistakes and be accountable of all those things that happened and try not to let them happen again.”

Washington limited Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty to 17 carries for 63 yards, totaled five sacks and held Las Vegas to 3 of 14 on third down conversions.

But it was a short few seconds in the locker room at halftime that made the game most memorable. Commanders Coach Dan Quinn went for a tumble after being run over on the sideline by quarterback Marcus Mariota. Quinn required medical attention at halftime, leaving players wondering about his availability for the second half. Wagner, as one of the team’s elder statesmen, was preparing to address the team before Quinn appeared out of nowhere.

“It was like a movie,” Wagner said. “That was such a cool moment. I’ll remember that forever, for sure.”

Week 2: Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross, who played at DeMatha Catholic High School and the University of Maryland, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his strong defensive performance helped the Colts beat the Denver Broncos, 29-28, on Sunday.

Cross made a team-high seven tackles and broke up a key third-down pass to force a punt as Indianapolis improved to 2-0.

Now in his fourth year in the NFL, Cross was selected by the Colts in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He moved into a starting role last season and has excelled. He made 133 tackles and intercepted five passes last season.

Week 1: Daron Payne, Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his strong defensive performance led the Commanders to a season-opening 21-6 win over the visiting New York Giants on Sunday.

Beginning his eighth season in the NFL, Payne was a force throughout the win, especially on third down.

On the Giants’ opening possession, Payne disrupted a screen pass on third-and-11. In the second quarter, on third-and-9, he burst into the backfield to sack quarterback Russell Wilson. In the third quarter, he shared another third-down sack and later batted down a pass to force another punt.

The Giants never reached the end zone and managed just two field goals in the game. They were 4 of 16 on third down and managed just 231 yards of total offense.

After the game, Coach Dan Quinn said that Payne has taken his play to another level.

“There was another space he went to in practice and performance,” Quinn said. “It was better. It was different. It was higher.”