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AROUND THE SHIELD — If you think the last three years have been off, imagine how Jordan Love feels.
The former Utah State standout quarterback has been waiting for his chance behind future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, playing 10 games with one start through his first two seasons in the NFL.
With Rodgers off to the Big Apple to take control of the New York Jets, the Packers will get a chance to see what the former first-round draft pick can do with his team.
The chance is here for the one-time Aggies great.
"It's always exciting to get the first game of the season rolling," Love told Green Bay reporters before the team's Week 1 tilt with the Chicago Bears. "But for an NFC opponent in a rivalry game, it will be very exciting to play in their season. I'm sure it will be a packed house, everybody will be excited for Week 1 and I'm ready to put on a show."
The game will be Love's first as a full-time starter, his second-ever start for a team with which he's completed 50-of-83 passes for 606 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions with three sacks taken. There's also a chance he could be without two of the Packers' top targets in Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, who both remain questionable with a hamstring injury.
Is the quarterback nervous?
"There are definitely always nerves, going into any game, especially the first game of the season," Love admitted. "I'm sure there will be those. It's just getting out there, getting your feet wet, relaxing. It's the first start for me, or at least my first time being a (full-time) starter."
Love is one of 52 players from Utah high schools and colleges on an active roster as the NFL opens the season Thursday night with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions (6:20 p.m. MDT, NBC). That includes eight players from Utah State, and a host of others who will be expected to fill big roles — newcomers and veterans alike.
One of the biggest new roles may come from former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid, the first-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills who will open the season on Monday Night Football against the Jets (6:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN).
The former no-star recruit from Las Vegas who played non-scholarship football at the University of San Diego before amassing 1,414 receiving yards with 16 touchdowns in three seasons in Salt Lake City has high expectations from a Bills team that bolstered their tight end room with Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris and Reggie Gilliam, in addition to Kincaid.
"I think (Kincaid) and Dawson on the field together is gonna cause some headaches for defensive coordiantors just because they both can run block good enough," Bills quarterback Josh Allen told the Pat McAfee Show. "If you put sub on the field and if you go base, our pass game is going to have some good opportunities, too ... Just getting those guys matched up with some linebackers and safeties, it's going to be fun to see how we utilize both of our guys."
Another intriguing local option is Rams rookie Puka Nacua, the former BYU and Orem High star who could end up as LA's No. 3 wide receiver for the season opener Sunday against Seattle with Cooper Kupp sidelined with a hamstring injury. But the fifth-round pick has earned the praises of his new coaches and teamamtes through offseason workouts — including Kupp himself.
"He's pretty special," Kupp said back in June, per Rams Digest. "He gets down a good trajectory, he's going to be a very good football player in this league."
Locals in the NFL on Week 1 rosters
Thursday
Detroit at Kansas City, 6:20 p.m. MDT, NBC
Chiefs (0-0)
- Matt Bushman, TE, BYU: Practice squad member called up to game day roster for Travis Kelce, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport
Lions (0-0)
- Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon)
Sunday
Carolina at Atlanta, 11 a.m. MDT, FOX
Panthers (0-0)
- Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful
- Eric Rowe, S, Utah (practice squad)
- Derek Wright, WR, Utah State/Manti (practice squad)
Falcons (0-0)
- Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU
- Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
- Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho)
Houston at Baltimore, 11 a.m. MDT, CBS
Texans (0-0)
- Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford)
Ravens (0-0)
- Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah
- Marcus Williams, FS, Utah
Cincinnati at Cleveland, 11 a.m. MDT, CBS
Bengals (0-0)
- Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State
- Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC)
Browns (0-0)
- Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU
- Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah
- Siaki 'Apu' Ika, DT, East (via Baylor)
Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 11 a.m. MDT, FOX
Jaguars (0-0)
- Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Colts (0-0)
- Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman
- Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem
Tampa Bay at Minnesota, 11 a.m. MDT, CBS
Buccaneers (0-0)
- Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State
Vikings (0-0)
- Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain
- Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger
- Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont (practice squad)
Tennessee at New Orleans, 11 a.m. MDT, CBS
Titans (0-0)
- No locals on the active roster.
Saints (0-0)
- Taysom Hill, TE/QB, BYU
- Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU
- Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills
- Rashid Shaheed, WR/RET, Weber State
San Francisco at Pittsburgh, 11 a.m. MDT, FOX
49ers (0-0)
- Fred Warner, LB, BYU
- Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah
- Cameron Latu, TE, Olympus (via Alabama) (injured reserve)
Steelers (0-0)
- Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State)
- Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah
- Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford) (practice squad)
Arizona at Washington, 11 a.m. MDT, FOX
Cardinals (0-0)
- Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman
- Jackson Barton, OT, Utah/Brighton (practice squad)
Commanders (0-0)
- Dax Milne, WR/RET, BYU/Bingham
- Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton
- Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State/Jordan
- Terrell Burgess, S, Utah (practice squad)
- Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah (injured reserve)
Green Bay at Chicago, 2:25 p.m. MDT, FOX
Packers (0-0)
- Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury
- Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State/BYU
- Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Bears (0-0)
- Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
- Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray
- Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon)
- Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber
Las Vegas at Denver, 2:25 p.m. MDT, CBS
Raiders (0-0)
- Andre James, C, Herriman (via UCLA)
- Cole Fotheringham, TE, Utah (practice squad)
Broncos (0-0)
- Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake
- Tim Patrick, WR, Utah (injured reserve)
Miami at LA Chargers, 2:25 p.m. MDT, CBS
Dolphins (0-0)
- Chris Brooks, RB, BYU
Chargers (0-0)
- Michael Davis, CB, BYU
- Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame)
- Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU (practice squad)
Philadelphia at New England, 2:25 p.m. MDT, CBS
Eagles (0-0)
- Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury
- Britain Covey, WR/RET, Utah/Timpview (practice squad)
Patriots (0-0)
- No locals on the active roster.
LA Rams at Seattle, 2:25 p.m. MDT, FOX
Rams (0-0)
- Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem
- Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State
Seahawks (0-0)
- Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State
- Bryan Mone, DT, Highland (via Michigan) (reserve/physically unable to perform list)
Dallas at New York Giants, 6:20 p.m. MDT, NBC
Cowboys (0-0)
- No locals on the active roster.
Giants (0-0)
- Kaleb Hayes, CB, BYU (practice squad)
Monday Night Football
Buffalo at New York Jets, 6:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN/ABC
Bills (0-0)
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
- Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State
- Bryan Thompson, WR, Utah (via Arizona State) (practice squad)
Jets (0-0)
- Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon
- Bradlee Anae, DE, Utah (injured reserve)
- Javelin Guidry, DB, Utah (injured reserve)
