Locals in the NFL: Zach Wilson returns for Jets' Week 4 comeback win ... with a Griddy

AROUND THE SHIELD — Former BYU quarterback Zach Wilson was back in the NFL on Sunday, catching touchdown passes and dancing like he never left.

Yes, you read that right.

Wilson threw for 252 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions, and also caught a touchdown pass to open the second quarter as the Jets rallied for a 24-20 win Sunday over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"First, I hand it and see everyone flowing," Wilson said in cheekily describing the double-reverse pass for the Jets' first touchdown. "Thank goodness; I've got the best hands on the team, so I don't have to worry."

Wilson took the snap on the 2-yard line, handed off the ball to the left, then caught a wide-open touchdown pass from Braxton Berrios that capped a nine-play, 70-yard drive in the second quarter to give New York a 10-0 lead.

It was Wilson's first touchdown of the regular season after missing the first three games with a torn meniscus and bone bruise suffered in the preseason. That may explain the Corner Canyon High product's boisterous celebration: the Griddy that started halfway through the end zone and advanced past the goal line.

But the Steelers came back, led by the insertion of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett and aided by two interceptions thrown by Wilson. The former Pitt star threw for 120 yards with three interceptions but also ran for two scores, including a 2-yard dive that gave Pittsburgh a 20-10 lead 13:36 left in the fourth quarter.

That set up the Jets' 11-play, 81-yard drive capped by Wilson's 5-yard TD strike to Corey Davis with 7:31 left, and Breece Hall ran one in from 2-yards out with 16 seconds left to clinch the win.

"That's frustrating," Wilson said of the Steelers' rally. "But it's part of the game. You've got to have a next-play mentality, and the guys did a great job responding and putting us in a great situation."

The victory marks the Jets' first run of consecutive road wins in seven years, or close to 50-straight games. That's the longest such streak in the NFL in 19 years, according to the NFL Network.

"This is probably the most comfortable I've ever felt, from a pregame standpoint coming into a game," Wilson said. "My expectation was that nothing's going to be perfect; it never is. I thought I had the right mentality.

"It's part of the game, and our defense did a great job getting us the ball back."

Here's how other former high school and college football standouts from Utah performed in Week 4 of the NFL's 2022 regular season.

Monday Night Football

San Francisco 24, LA Rams 9

49ers (2-2)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker posted nine tackles on defense
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted four times for 158 yards, a 39.5-yard average, with one touchback and one punt downed inside the 20

Rams (2-2)

• Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Reserve safety made downed a punt on special teams
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/Utah Valley/Orem: Convert field goals from 39, 29 and 26 yards with four kickoffs
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker totaled a team-high10 tackles
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defense tackle played on special teams and defense

Sunday Night Football

Kansas City 41, Tampa Bay 31

Chiefs (3-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Buccaneers (2-2)

• No locals on the active roster.

Sunday games

NY Jets 24, Pittsburgh 20

Jets (2-2)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Completed 18-of-36 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in his first start of the year; added 15 yards rushing, 2-yard receiving touchdown on double-reverse play.

Steelers (1-3)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/East/Snow: Reserve running back ran for 18 yards on three carries with one catch for four years
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams

Las Vegas 32, Denver 23

Raiders (1-3)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman: Started at center

Broncos (2-2)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle

Green Bay 27, New England 24

Packers (3-1)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Active, but did not play
• Tipa Galeai, LB, Utah State: Reserve linebacker played on defense and special teams
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State/BYU: Reserve safety played on defense and special teams

Patriots (1-3)

• No locals on the active roster.

Arizona 26, Carolina 16

Cardinals (2-2)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Reserve defensive lineman played on defense and special teams
• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Reserve linebacker had two tackles, one pass breakup on defense before leaving the game with injury

Panthers (1-3)

• Brady Christensen, OT, BYU/Bountiful: Started at left guard

Atlanta 23, Cleveland 20

Falcons (2-2)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for a team-high 84 yards on 10 carries, an 8.4 yards per carry average with a long run of 42, and caught one pass for 20 yards

Browns (2-2)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had four tackles on defense

Buffalo 23, Baltimore 20

Bills (3-1)

• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Reserve running back ran for six yards on three carries
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting cornerback made four tackles on defense

Ravens (2-2)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Starting free safety and recovered a fumble on defense

Dallas 25, Washington 10

Cowboys (3-1)

• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton: Reserve wide receiver played on offense and special teams
• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham: Starting tight end was targeted three times

Commanders (1-3)

• Dax Milne, WR, BYU/Bingham: Reserve wide receiver caught two punts for seven yards, as well as two fair catches, and returned a kickoff 18 yards

Seattle 48, Detroit 45

Seahawks (2-2)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Reserve linebacker had seven tackles and a pass breakup
• Bryan Mone, DT, Highland: Reserve defensive lineman made two tackles

Lions (1-3)

• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Starting running back ran for 108 yards on 19 carries, including touchdowns of one and 51 yards, and caught one pass from three targets
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills: Started at right tackle

LA Chargers 34, Houston 24

Chargers (2-2)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback played on defense and special teams
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting edge rusher finished with four tackles
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem: Reserve safety made one tackle on defense

Texans (0-3-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Tennessee 24, Indianapolis 17

Titans (2-2)

• No locals on the active roster

Colts (1-2-1)

• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Inactive for Week 4

NY Giants 20, Chicago 12

Giants (3-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Bears (2-2)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Inactive for Week 4
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played nine snaps on special teams
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle

Philadelphia 29, Jacksonville 21

Eagles (4-0)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Reserve lineman rotated at offensive guard, including on special teams
• Britain Covey, WR/PR, Utah/Timpview: Reserve receiver field one punt for two yards and returned three kickoffs for a total of 69 yards

Jaguars (2-2)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker totaled 14 tackles and a massive block on an interception return for a touchdown

Minnesota 28, New Orleans 25

Vikings (3-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Saints (1-3)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Reserve tight end ran for 21 yards on five carries, including a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter
• Chase Hansen, LB, Utah/Lone Peak: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams
• Daniel Sorensen, S, BYU: Reserve safety made one tackle on defense

Thursday Night Football

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15

Bengals (2-2)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Played three snaps on special teams
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham: Active, but did not play

Dolphins (3-1)

• Eric Rowe, DB, Utah: Reserve safety made four tackles in 41 defensive snaps

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