19 Locals To Play In NFL Postseason
Dec 29, 2019, 10:15 PM | Updated: Dec 30, 2019, 9:47 am
Drew Brees #9 and Taysom Hill #7 of the New Orleans Saints celebrate a touchdown pass during the third quarter during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The regular season in the NFL has wrapped up, but some locals will be playing the the postseason.
Five Utah Utes alums will be going to the playoffs with three of those players doing so as rookies. Six former BYU players will be playing in the postseason, with two players making their first appearance. Four former Utah State players have qualified for the Playoffs, along with two former Weber State players, one Southern Utah alum and one former high school star.
Here is how all of the players with ties to the state of Utah fared during the final week of the NFL regular season.
Former Utes
Star Lotulelei, DT, Buffalo Bills (10-6)
Lotulelei had one tackle for the Bills in their 13-6 loss to the New York Jets.
Next Up: AFC Wild Card at Houston Texans (10-6) on Saturday at 2:35 p.m. on ESPN/ABC.
Devontae Booker, RB, Denver Broncos (7-9)
Booker had two catches for 17 yards and also recovered a fumble on special teams in the Broncos’ 16-15 win over the Oakland Raiders.
Next Up: Season is over. Booker will become a free agent this off-season.
Garett Bolles, OL, Denver Broncos (7-9)
Bolles started at left tackle for the Broncos in their win over the Raiders.
Next Up: Season is over. Bolles has at least one more season left on his current contract.
Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos (7-9)
Patrick hauled in one catch for 14 yards as the Broncos knocked off the Oakland Raiders.
Next Up: Season is over. Patrick will become a restricted free agent this off-season.
Sam Tevi, OL, Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
Tevi started at right tackle in the Chargers’ 31-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Next Up: Season is over. Tevi has one more year remaining on his current contract.
Eric Weddle, S, Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
Weddle led the Rams with 7 tackles, including one tackle for a loss in the Rams’ 31-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Next Up: Season is over. Weddle will have one more year remaining on his current contract.
Larry Fitzgerald & Eric Weddle sharing a postgame moment pic.twitter.com/kxRQERfpfT
— katherine fitzgerald 🌵 (@kfitz134) December 30, 2019
Eric Rowe, CB, Miami Dolphins (5-11)
Rowe racked up five tackles, one pass deflection and an interception returned 35-yards for a touchdown in the Dolphins’ 27-24 upset win over the New England Patriots.
Next Up: Season is over. Rowe recently signed a new contract extension with the Dolphins for three more seasons.
ERIC. ROWE. PICK. SIX.#MIAvsNE #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/4HbdX8qXgb
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 29, 2019
Marcus Williams, S, New Orleans Saints (13-3)
Williams was inactive for the Saints in their 42-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Next Up: NFC Wild Card vs. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. on FOX.
Mitch Wishnowsky, P, San Francisco 49ers (11-5)
Wishnowsky posted two punts with an average of 47.0 yards per kick in San Francisco’s 26-21 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Next Up: Divisional Round vs. TBD on Saturday, January 11 at 2:35 p.m. on KSL TV. The Niners get a first round bye after getting the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Marquise Blair, S, Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
Blair posted two tackles in Seattle’s 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Next Up: NFC Wild Card at Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. on KSL TV.
Cody Barton, LB, Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
Barton posted one tackle in Seattle’s 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Next Up: NFC Wild Card at Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. on KSL TV.
Gay missed all three of his field goal attempts but made both of his extra point attempts in the Buccaneers’ 28-22 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Next Up: Season is over. Gay has three years remaining on his rookie contract.
Tony Bergstrom, OL, Washington Redskins (3-13)
Bergstrom played for the Redskins in their 47-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Next Up: Season is over. Bergstrom will be a free agent this off-season.
Nate Orchard, LB, Washington Redskins (3-13)
Orchard recorded two tackles in the Redskins’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Next Up: Season is over. Orchard will be a free agent this off-season.
Former Cougars
Sione Takitaki, LB, Cleveland Browns (6-10)
The rookie linebacker finished his first NFL season with one tackle in the Browns’ 33-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Next Up: Season is over. Takitaki has three years remaining on his rookie contract.
Jamaal Williams, RB, Green Bay Packers (13-3)
Williams was inactive for the Packers due to a shoulder injury. Green Bay beat the Detroit Lions, 23-20.
Next Up: Divisional Round vs. TBD on Sunday, January 12 at 4:40 p.m. on FOX. The Packers get a first round bye after securing one of the top two seeds in the NFC.
Daniel Sorensen, S, Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
The former Cougar had 5 tackles, one pass deflection and an interception to seal the Chiefs’ 31-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Next Up: Divisional Round vs. TBD on Sunday, January 12 at 3:05 p.m. on CBS. The Chiefs get a first round bye after getting the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
DIRTY DAN!!! pic.twitter.com/EzUmRC6AJP
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 29, 2019
Michael Davis, CB, Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
Davis picked up two tackles, two pass deflections and an interception in the Chargers’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Next Up: Season is over. Davis will become a restricted free agent this off-season.
GOT IT! @MikeyQuince | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/jGO6inDysl
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) December 29, 2019
Kyle Van Noy, LB, New England Patriots (12-4)
Van Noy had six tackles for the Patriots in their 27-24 upset loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Next Up: AFC Wildcard vs. Tennessee Titans (9-7) on Saturday at 2:35 p.m. on ESPN/ABC.
Taysom Hill, QB, New Orleans Saints (13-3)
Hill had two carries for 4 yards on the ground, along with one catch for 45 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ 42-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Next Up: NFC Wildcard vs. Minnesota Vikings (10-6), Sunday at 11:05 a.m. on FOX.
Harvey Langi, New York Jets (7-9)
Langi played for the Jets but didn’t record any stats in their 13-6 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Next Up: Season is over. Langi has one more year remaining on his contract.
Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
Warner had a game-sealing stop on the goal line in San Francisco’s 26-21 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He recorded three tackles and a quarterback in the win.
Next Up: Divisional Round vs. TBD on Saturday, January 11 at 2:35 p.m.on KSL TV. The Niners get a first round bye after getting the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
ALL GAS, NO BRAKE ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/cuOXBEOljv
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 30, 2019
Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
Ansah picked up two tackles in the Seahawks’ 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football.
Next Up: NFC Wild Card at Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. on KSL TV.
Former Aggies
Tyler Larsen, OL, Carolina Panthers (5-11)
Larsen played for the Panthers in their 42-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Next Up: Season is over. Larsen has one more year remaining on his contract.
Patrick Scales, LS, Chicago Bears (8-8)
Scales participated on special teams as the long snapper in the Bears’ 21-19 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Next Up: Season is over. Scales will be a free agent this off-season.
Nick Vigil, LB, Cincinnati Bengals (2-14)
Vigil recorded 4 tackles in the Bengals’ 33-23 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Next Up: Season is over. Vigil will be a free agent this off-season.
Kyler Fackrell, LB, Green Bay Packers (13-3)
Fackrell finished with 3 tackles in the Packers’ 23-20 win over the Detroit Lions.
Next Up: NFC Divisional on Sunday, January 12 at 4:40 p.m. on FOX. The Packers get a first round bye after securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
Thompson carried the ball 4 times for 17 yards in the Chiefs’ 31-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Next Up:Divisional Round vs. TBD on Sunday, January 12 at 3:05 p.m. on CBS. The Chiefs get a first round bye after getting the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
Dallin Leavitt, S, Oakland Raiders (7-9)
Leavitt played on special teams for the Raiders in their loss to the Broncos.
Next Up: Season is over. Leavitt will be a free agent this off-season.
Nevin Lawson, CB, Oakland Raiders (7-9)
Lawson had two tackles for the Raiders in their 16-15 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Next Up: Season is over. Lawson will be a free agent this off-season.
Robert Turbin, RB, Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
Turbin played 8 snaps on special teams for the Seahawks in their loss to the 49ers.
Next Up: NFC Wild Card at Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. on KSL TV.
Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
Wagner recorded 7 tackles and 4 solo tackles in Seattle’s 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Next Up: NFC Wild Card at Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. on KSL TV.
Donald Penn, OL, Washington Redskins (3-13)
Penn started at left tackle or the Redskins in their 47-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Next Up: Season is over. Penn will be a free agent this off-season.
Former Wildcats
Taron Johnson, CB, Buffalo Bills (10-6)
Johnson picked up 5 tackles and a pass deflection in the Bills’ 13-6 loss to the New York Jets.
Next Up: AFC Wildcard at Houston Texans (10-6), Saturday at 2:35 p.m. on ESPN/ABC.
Iosua Opeta, OL, Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)
Opeta was inactive for the Eagles in their 34-17 win over the New York Giants.
Next Up: NFC Wildcard vs. Seattle Seahawks (11-5), Sunday at 2:40 p.m. on KSL TV.
Former Thunderbirds
Miles Killebrew, S, Detroit Lions (3-12-1)
Killebrew had four tackles in the Lions’ 23-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Next Up: Season is over. Killebrew will be a free agent this off-season.
LeShaun Sims, CB, Tennessee Titans (9-7)
Sims picked up one tackle on special teams in the Titans’ 35-14 win over the Houston Texans.
Next Up: AFC Wildcard at New England Patriots (12-4), Saturday at 6:15 p.m. on CBS.
Former High School Stars
Dalton Schultz, TE, Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
The Bingham high alum played in the game for the Cowboys in their win over the Washington Redskins but didn’t record any stats.
Next Up: Season is over. Schultz has two more years remaining on his contract.
Xavier Su’a-Filo, OL, Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
The former Timpview star missed the Cowboys’ 47-16 victory over the Washington Redskins due to an injury.
Next Up: Season is over. Su’a-Filo will be a free agent this off-season.
Andre James, OL, Oakland Raiders (7-9)
James played in the game for the Raiders in their 16-15 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Next Up: Season is over. James has two more years remaining on his contract.
John Ursua, WR, Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
The former Cedar High School star made a crucial catch in the red zone on fourth down to keep the Seahawks drive alive. It was for 11 yards in their loss to the 49ers.
Next Up: NFC Wild Card at Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. on KSL TV.
Porter Gustin, DE, Cleveland Browns (6-10)
The former Salem Hills star had 5 tackles for the Browns in their 33-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Next Up: Season is over. Gustin has one more year remaining on his contract.
