Terrelle Pryor made his debut with a new team on Sunday, and things did not go well for Washington. The wide receiver feels largely responsible for that.
Pryor had trouble locating the ball on a deep shot from Kirk Cousins to start the game, but that play wasn’t the one that stung the most. With Washington trailing the Philadelphia Eagles 19-17 late in the fourth quarter at their own 1-yard line, Pryor got open over the middle of the field and let a pass bounce off his hands. He made no excuses after the game.
“I’m just shooting myself in the foot right now,” Pryor said, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post. “For dropping that ball. I’m pissed right now. I put this game totally on myself.”
Pryor admitted that he was looking where he was going rather than securing the ball first.
“I didn’t really look it in like I normally do. Soon as it touched my hands, I started to run to see if I had a crease,” he said. “I’ve got to be a better professional and catch that ball, and I can’t let the quarterback and can’t let the team down. I did today. It’s unfortunate, and I’ve got to do better.
“I’ve got to make that play. … Maybe we’re not talking here. Maybe we go down the field and score.”
There’s no guarantee Washington would have won if Pryor made either play, but he knows it would have given the team a much better chance. He was targeted 11 times and caught just six passes for 66 yards.
Pryor signed a one-year, $8 million deal with Washington during the offseason. He had over 1,000 yards receiving in 2016 despite playing for the Cleveland Browns, and one of his former coaches expects huge things from Pryor in Washington. His chemistry with Kirk Cousins should only improve as the year goes on.
