Rookies get first look in week 4 of locals in the NFL


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SALT LAKE CITY — A quarter through the NFL season, three former Utah locals and NFL rookies recorded their first official stats this week. Miles Killebrew and LeShaun Sims (Southern Utah), and Jared Norris (Utah) all had a tackle for their respective teams in Week 4 losses.

Ziggy Ansah was again inactive for Detroit in its loss to Chicago, as was fellow former BYU Cougar Alani Fua, who was placed on injured reserve for the Cardinals. Former Utes Koa Misi, Eric Rowe and Nate Orchard were all off due to injury this week. Orchard was placed on the Browns' injured reserve list, and Rowe may be headed to New England's respective IR after reports said he's been dealing with some ankle problems.

BYU

  • Ezekiel Ansah: Detroit Lions, defensive end — Ansah was ruled out (ankle) for the tilt with Chicago. Ansah last played in the first series of the Tennessee game in Week 2.
  • Alani Fua: Arizona Cardinals, linebacker — Fua was placed on IR due to a knee injury, per cbssports.com. The Cardinals lost to Los Angeles 17-14.
  • Bronson Kaufusi: Baltimore Ravens, defensive end — Kaufusi, yet again, did not play (DNP) in the Ravens' loss to Oakland, 28-27.
  • Dennis Pitta: Baltimore Ravens, tight end — Pitta had three catches for 17 yards in the Ravens' loss.
  • Daniel Sorensen: Kansas City Chiefs, defensive back — Sorensen had a nice game for Kansas City, recording five tackles and a tackle for loss, but the Chiefs as a whole were rather poor, losing 43-14 to Pittsburgh.
  • Uani' Unga: New York Giants, linebacker — DNP in the Giants loss to the Vikings.
  • Kyle Van Noy: Detroit Lions, linebacker — Van Noy had a big night against Chicago, recording seven solo tackles for the Lions in a loss to Chicago.

Utah

  • Matt Asiata: Minnesota Vikings, running back — Carried the ball six times for six yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 24-10 win over the Giants on ESPN's Monday Night Football. Asiata has carried the ball 16 times for 42 yards this season in relief of the injured Adrian Peterson.
  • Devontae Booker: Denver Broncos, running back — Booker carried the ball seven times for 30 yards as the Broncos remained undefeated, beating Tampa Bay 27-7.
  • Paul Kruger: New Orleans Saints, defensive end — Kruger left the game early with a back injury after recording two tackles and assisting on a sack for the Saints, and is questionable to play this coming weekend versus Carolina. The Saints beat the Chargers after an exciting fourth quarter comeback left them ahead 35-34.
  • Star Lotulelei: Carolina Panthers, defensive tackle — Never much of a stat stuffer, Lotulelei recorded just one tackle for Carolina in a 48-33 loss to Atlanta. The Panther defense was abused all day long, as the Falcons' quarterback/wide receiver duo of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones recorded the first-ever 500 yard passing, 300 yard receiving game by teammates, according to Elias.
  • Brice McCain: Tennessee Titans, cornerback — McCain recorded one tackle in a 27-20 loss to Houston.
  • Keith McGill: Oakland Raiders, defensive back — McGill didn't record a stat in the 28-27 victory over Baltimore.
  • Koa Misi: Miami Dolphins, linebacker — Misi was a DNP for the Dolphins' Thursday night tilt with Cincinnati after suffering a neck injury the week before against Cleveland. The Dolphins lost, 22-7.
  • Jared Norris: Carolina Panthers, linebacker — Norris recorded his first career tackle for the Panthers in the loss to Atlanta.
  • Nate Orchard: Cleveland Browns, linebacker — Orchard, a DNP this week against Washington after suffering an ankle injury, has been placed on injured reserve by the Browns.
  • Tenny Palepoi: San Diego Chargers, defensive tackle — Palepoi recorded two tackles in the loss to New Orleans.
  • Eric Rowe: New England Patriots, defensive back — Rowe was listed as inactive for the Patriots (ankle), as New England was shut out by Buffalo 16-0.
  • Derrick Shelby: Atlanta Falcons, defensive end — Shelby recorded two tackles in the 48-33 win over Carolina.
  • Sean Smith: Oakland Raiders, cornerback — Smith continued his strong play from last week, recording three tackles and two pass deflections in the win over Baltimore. Smith got to line up several times across from another former Ute in Steve Smith.
  • Alex Smith: Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback — Alex Smith threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh in the Chiefs' loss.
  • Steve Smith Sr.: Baltimore Ravens, wide receiver — The future Hall of Fame member recorded eight receptions for 111 yards, including this 52-yard grab that left one current collegiate athlete impressed.
  • Paul Soliai: Carolina Panthers, defensive tackle — Soliai recorded one tackle in the Panthers' loss.
  • Eric Weddle: Baltimore Ravens, safety — Weddle didn't look like himself Sunday against Oakland, at least in the stat sheet. He tallied one tackle and one pass deflection in the Ravens' loss.

Utah State

  • Maurice Alexander: Los Angeles Rams, safety — Alexander's Rams beat the Cardinals 17-13, with a nice performance from the strong safety, who recorded five tackles.
  • Will Davis: Baltimore Ravens, cornerback — DNP in the Ravens' loss.
  • Marwin Evans: Green Bay Packers, safety — Evans' Giants face Minnesota tonight on Monday Night Football at 6:30 p.m.
  • Kyler Fackrell: Green Bay Packers, linebacker — Fackrell's Packers were on a bye this week. They next face the Giants on Oct. 9.
  • Nevin Lawson: Detroit Lions, cornerback — Lawson had a big game for the Lions, recording seven tackles in the 17-14 loss to Chicago.
  • Robert Turbin: Indianapolis Colts, running back — Turbin rushed once for two yards and caught two passes for 3 yards in a 30-27 loss to Jacksonville. The game was played in London.
  • Nick Vigil: Cincinatti Bengals, linebacker — Vigil had an assisted tackle in the Bengals' 22-7 victory over Miami.
  • Bobby Wagner: Seattle Seahawks, linebacker — Wagner was huge for Seattle this week, recording 11 tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. Seattle beat New York 27-17.

Southern Utah

  • Miles Killebrew: Detroit Lions, safety — Killebrew recorded his first career tackle for the Lions in their 17-14 loss in Chicago.
  • LeShaun Sims: Tennessee Titans, cornerback — Like Killebrew, Sims also recorded his first career tackle in the 27-20 loss in Houston.

Stephen Lindsey is a student at the University of Utah currently working as an intern with KSL.com in Salt Lake City. Contact him at th3sl3@gmail.com or interact via his twitter handle, @slthe3

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