Locals in the NFL: Week 6 was good for these 2 Weber State alums in the pros

AROUND THE SHIELD — If last week was Taysom Time for New Orleans, this week was the Shaheed Show.

Eight days ago, former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns, a 22-yard touchdown pass, returned three kickoffs, recovered a fumble, and had a key block down the stretch in the Saints' 39-32 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Next up was former Weber State return star Rashid Shaheed.

After being elevated from New Orleans' practice squad, Shaheed took the first touch of his NFL regular-season career 44 yards for a touchdown in the Saints' 30-26 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Shaheed said it was "a play that we had schemed all week," and when he got the ball on the end-around sweep, he knew just what to do.

"We ran it in practice, and it worked," he said. "I had a feeling it was coming up soon and it did. I made most of the opportunity.

"I had full faith in my teammates that they were going to get the job done. All I needed to do was to get the ball and run. That is all I really had to do. The other 10 guys did their job. When everyone else does that, then it makes my job easy."

Hill completed 2-of-4 passes for 16 yards, ran for 39 yards, and sprinted for 31 yards near the end of the second half that led to Will Lutz's 30-yard field goal that gave the Saints a 20-14 halftime lead.

A former five-year letterman at Weber State, Shaheed agreed to terms with the Saints back on May 1, but has spent most of his time on the practice squad after being waived Aug. 31. Upon clearing waivers, he signed with New Orleans' practice squad.

With wide receivers Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave among the inactives against the Bengals, arguably the best returner in the Football Championship Subdivision was called up to fill in at wide out.

Shaheed wasn't the only Weber State grad making an impact Sunday in Week 6 of the NFL's 2022 regular season.

Former Wildcats star Taron Johnson, who recently agreed to a new three-year, $24 million contract, sealed Buffalo's 24-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

While Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes stole the headlines — and played to a near-draw, with Allen's 329 yards and three touchdown performance edging Mahomes' 338 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

But it was Johnson who made the game-sealing play, picking off Mahomes with 56 seconds left after Allen found Dawson Knox for a 14-yard game-winning score with 1:04 remaining.

That set up one final drive inside the two-minute drill for Mahomes, who tried to thread a pass over the middle of the field until Johnson jumped his route, lunged for the ball, and made the game-saving play — and immediately went to the ground to secure the ball without attempting a return.

"I was just trying to get there," said Bills linebacker Von Miller, who had four tackles and two sacks. "Pat (Mahomes) had been doing a great job of scrambling all game. In my head, I'm just thinking I've got to get him down. I made an inside move, he flushed out, and we had Taron Johnson right there for the interception.

"Great team play. It feels good to go out there and do your job."

Here's how other former college and high school football standouts from the Beehive State performed in Week 6 of the regular season.

Teams on bye

• Detroit Lions: RB Jamaal Williams, BYU; OT Penei Sewell, Desert Hills
• Houston Texans: No locals on the active roster
• Las Vegas Raiders: C Andre James, Herriman
• Tennessee Titans: No locals on the active roster

Monday Night Football

Denver Broncos vs. LA Chargers

Broncos (2-3)

• No locals on the active roster

Chargers (3-2)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem

Sunday Night Football

Philadelphia 26, Dallas 17

Eagles (6-0)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Came off the bench at offensive guard, and played on special teams
• Britain Covey, WR/PR, Utah/Timpview: Returned one punt for 14 yards

Cowboys (4-2)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham: Did not play after previously missing Week 3 with a knee injury
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton: Played on injured reserve Saturday (shoulder)

Buffalo 24, Kansas City 20

Bills (5-1)

• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Inactive for Week 6
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel totaled six tackles, one pass breakup, and game-clinching interception in the fourth quarter

Chiefs (4-2)

• No locals on the active roster.

Seattle 19, Arizona 9

Seahawks (3-3)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker made two tackles on defense
• Bryan Mone, DT, Highland: Starting nose tackle made three tackles, one tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry on defense

Cardinals (2-4)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Place on injured reserve during the week (hamstring)
• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Reserve defensive tackle made one stop on defense

LA Rams 24, Carolina 10

Rams (3-3)

• Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Reserve safety also played on special teams
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/Utah Valley/Orem: Made a 21-yard field goal, three point-after touchdowns, and five kickoffs
• Bobby Wagner LB, Utah State: Starting inside linebacker tied for the team high with seven tackles
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive tackle made one stop on defense

Panthers (1-5)

• Brady Christensen, OG, BY/Bountiful: Started at left guard

Pittsburgh 20, Tampa Bay 18

Steelers (2-4)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East: Reserve running back ran for two yards on two carries, made on tackle on special teams
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams

Buccaneers (3-3)

• No locals on the active roster.

NY Giants 24, Baltimore 20

Giants (5-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Ravens (3-3)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Placed on injured reserve early in the week (wrist)

Cincinnati 30, New Orleans 26

Bengals (3-3)

• Jalen Davis, B, Utah State: Reserve cornerback played mostly on special teams
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham: Reserve defensive tackle made six tackles and a tackle for loss

Saints (2-4)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Completed 2-of-4 passes for 16 yards, ran five times for 39 yards; checked in 10 times at quarterback
• Rashid Shaheed, WR, Weber State: Reserve receiver was targeted once, ran for 44-yard touchdown on only carry; returned one punt for six yards, one kick for 20 yards
• Chase Hansen, LB, Utah/Lone Peak: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams
• Daniel Sorensen, S, BYU: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial: Reserve linebacker had a 10-yard sack on defense

Minnesota 24, Miami 16

Vikings (5-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Dolphins (3-3)

• Eric Rowe, DB, Utah: Reserve defensive back made three tackles on defense

Indianapolis 34, Jacksonville 27

Colts (3-2-1)

• Julian Blackmon,FS, Utah/Layton: Active, but did not play

Jaguars (2-4)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker totaled seven tackles on defense

NY Jets 27, Green Bay 10

Jets (4-2)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed10-of-18 passes for 110 yards with two sacks taken; ran five times for 1 net yard

Packers (3-3)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Backup quarterback completed 2-of-4 passes for eight yards
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams
• Tipa Galeai, LB, Utah State: Placed on injured reserve Friday (hamstring)

New England 38, Cleveland15

Patriots (3-3)

• No locals on the active roster.

Browns (2-4)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had five tackles,including four solo stops

Atlanta 28, San Francisco 14

Falcons (3-3)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Starting running back ran for yards on 15 carries (3.4 yards per carry).

49ers (3-3)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker posted team-high 10 tackles
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted three times for 158 yards (52.7 yard average) with one punt downed inside the 20

Thursday Night Football

Washington 12, Chicago 7

Commanders (2-4)

• Dax Milne, WR/PR, BYU/Bingham: Reserve receiver caught one pass for five yards, fielded three punts for 35 yards (11.7 yards average) in six snaps on offense and four more on special teams.
• Tyler Larsen, OC, Utah State/Jordan: Came off PUP list to play all 57 snaps on offense, three on special teams

Bears (2-4)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback had three tackles, one pass breakup while playing all 57 defensive snaps
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Play five snaps on special teams
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Starting left tackle played all 72 snaps on offense

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