Locals in the NFL: Taysom Hill, Jamaal Williams standing out through Week 11

AROUND THE SHIELD — Taysom Hill is still Taysom Hill, even if the letters next to his name on New Orleans' roster have changed.

The former BYU quarterback started at tight end and averaged 5.8 yards on nine carries for a team-high 52 yards in the New Orleans Saints' 27-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams that snapped a two-game losing skid Sunday.

Tight end. Quarterback. Occasional receiver and special teams talent. Hill is just a football player, and New Orleans is better because of it.

"Me personally, I don't feel like anything has ever changed from 2018 to where we are at now. There was a lot of conversation earlier about me going into the tight end room and everything else," Hill said after the win. "But as I talked and met with Pete (Carmichael, Saints offensive coordinator) at the end of the day, the conversation was, 'we just want to use you more, and we just want to make sure we are preparing you for what we want to ask of you.'

"As the season has played out to Week 11, I'm not surprised at how things have gone. This is kind of how I had always envisioned it. And every week is a little bit different."

Andy Dalton had arguably his best game of the year for New Orleans (4-7), completing 21-of-25 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Hill knows that, and he's content with his role.

That role, of course, also includes a certain package of plays designed to use Hill as a passer and Wildcat quarterback; the former BYU athlete completed 1-of-3 passes for 14 yards Sunday, and also caught a pass for eight yards.

Again, whatever the need is, he says.

"Honestly, I don't feel like things have really changed from what I've done in years past with Sean (Payton, former Saints head coach) to what I've done with Pete," Hill stressed.

One of Hill's former BYU teammates, meanwhile, is having the best season of his NFL career. Jamaal Williams ran for a 64 yards on 17 carries and a hat trick in the Lions' 31-18 win over the New York Giants, scoring touchdowns four, one and one yards to help Detroit turn a 6-3 deficit into a 24-6 advantage and cruise to the win.

"Really, I just feel like I'm doing my job," Williams told the Detroit media after the game. "I just want to come in here and do my job at the highest level possibly and I really just want to keep influencing people with my play. I just want to keep going. I really just want to see my team win."

The former BYU all-time leading rusher currently leads the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns to go along with a career-high 668 yards.

And while Williams defers credit to his teammates, his teammates with the Lions (4-6) also know the value he brings to a team that currently riding a three-game winning streak prior to a short turnaround Thursday night against Buffalo.

"He's our horse, and any time we get down there in the red zone, it feels automatic with him," Detroit quarterback Jared Goff said of Williams. "As a quarterback, sometimes you want to throw them in. But Jamaal is automatic, and I certainly have no upset-ness about scoring touchdowns with him."

Here's how other former local high school and college football standouts performed in Week 11 of the 2022 NFL regular season.

Teams on bye:

• Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7): LB Devin Lloyd, Utah
• Seattle Seahawks (6-4): LB Cody Barton, Utah/Brighton; DT Bryan Mone, Highland
• Miami Dolphins (7-3): S Eric Rowe, Utah
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5): No locals on the active roster

Monday Night Football

San Francisco 38, Arizona 10

49ers (6-4)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker totaled six tackles, including two tackles for loss with a sack and quarterback hit on defense
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Averaged 54.5 yards per punt for 218 yards with one touchback and two punts downed inside the 20 with six snaps at holder and a tackle on special teams

Cardinals (4-7)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Starting nose tackle had three shared stops on defense

Sunday Night Football

Kansas City 30, Los Angeles 27

Chiefs (8-2)

• No locals on the active roster, but coached by former BYU offensive lineman Andy Reid

Chargers (5-5)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Starting cornerback posted three tackles on defense
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting edge rusher had two tackles, two quarterback hits on defense
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem: Reserve safety had a tackle and a fumble recovery on defense

Sunday afternoon

Baltimore 13, Carolina 3

Ravens (7-3)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play

Panthers (3-8)

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

Buffalo 31, Cleveland 23

Bills (7-3)

• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel totaled eight tackles on defense

Browns (3-7)

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

Washington 23, Houston 10

Commanders (6-5)

• Dax Milne, WR/RS, BYU/Bingham: Reserve receiver fielded four punts for 22 yards with two fair catches on special teams
• Tyler Larsen, OC, Utah State/Jordan: Started at center

Texans (1-8-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Atlanta 27, Chicago 24

Falcons (5-6)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 55 yards on eight carries on offense

Bears (3-8)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback had two tackles and a fumble recovery for 17 yards
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played 9 snaps on special teams
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle

Philadelphia 17, Indianapolis 16

Eagles (9-1)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Inactive for Week 11
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Reserve receiver fielded one punt for 13 yards with one fair catch on special teams

Colts (4-6-1)

• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Reserve running back had two carries for seven yards on offense
• Julian Blackmon, DB, Utah/Layton: Starting safety had five tackles and a tackle for loss

New England 10, New York 3

Patriots (6-4)

• No locals on the active roster

Jets (6-4)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed 9-of-22 passes for 77 yards with four sacks, ran for 26 yards on three carries on offense

New Orleans 27, Los Angeles 20

Saints (4-7)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Starting tight end ran for team-high 52 yards on nine carries, completed one pass for 14 yards with a sack, caught one pass for eight yards on offense
• Daniel Sorensen, S, BYU: Reserve safety made one tackle on kickoff
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Reserve receiver caught one pass for eight yards, fielded four punts for 40 yards with two fair catches on special teams
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial: Starting linebacker had a team-high 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits and a pass deflected on defense

Rams (3-7)

• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked field goals of 33 and 58 yards, two PATs, and and four kickoffs
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker posted team-high 11 tackles
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Inactive for Week 11

Detroit 31, New York 18

Lions (4-6)

• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Starting running back ran for 64 yards on 17 carries, including touchdown runs to cap three consecutive drives to post a league-leading 12 rushing touchdowns on the season
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills: Started at right tackle

Giants (7-3)

• No locals on the active roster

Las Vegas 22, Denver 16

Raiders (3-7)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman: Started at center

Broncos (3-7)

• Harvey Langi, LB, BYU/Bingham: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on kickoff

Dallas 40, Minnesota 3

Cowboys (7-3)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham: Starting tight end caught three passes for 22 yards on offense

Vikings (8-2)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive tackle had four tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defended on defense

Cincinnati 37, Pittsburgh 30

Bengals (6-4)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback played mostly on special teams
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham: Reserve defensive tackle made two tackles on defense

Steelers (3-7)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East: Reserve running back caught one pass for nine yards on offense
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams

Thursday Night Football

Tennessee 27, Green Bay 17

Titans (7-3)

• No locals on the active roster

Packers (4-7)

• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State/BYU: Reserve safety had one tackle in 16 special-teams snaps
• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Active, but did not play.

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