Locals in the NFL: Allgeier keeps running for TDs; Nacua sets rookie record in Week 1

AROUND THE SHIELD — Tyler Allgeier picked up right where he left off in his sophomore season with the Atlanta Falcons.

The former rookie 1,000-yard rusher out of BYU opened his second campaign in Atlanta running for 75 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons' 24-10 win Sunday over the Carolina Panthers.

"We worked our tails off this whole offseason, getting ready for Game 1," Allgeier told Fox Sports' Jennifer Hale after the game. "I think we all had just had our mindset to get this win. That was the main important thing. Now we can celebrate and then get ready for next week."

Allgeier, who set a rookie rushing record for both the Falcons and BYU football alums with 1,035 yards and three touchdowns last year, was a key difference-maker in a 7-7 halftime stalemate, scoring his first touchdown from 3 yards out in the first minute of the fourth quarter to put the Falcons up 17-10.

He did it again 10 minutes later, capping a six-play, 56-yard drive with another 3-yard score to help Atlanta to the final margin.

Allgeier teamed with new teammate Bijan Robinson to power a ground game that averaged 4.6 yards per carry for 130 net yards, including the rookie's 56 yards on 10 carries.

"It was super fun. I had a good time with my teammates. Playing with this guy right here was so much fun," Robinson said while standing next to Allgeier. "And the O-line, how they opened up everything."

Other highlights from Week 1 include:

• Former BYU receiver Puka Nacua caught 10 passes for 119 yards in the Los Angeles Rams' 30-13 win over Seattle. The Orem High product who was targeted 15 times broke Cooper Kupp's Rams' record for receiving yards by a rookie set in 2017 with 87.
• Former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns in his debut as Green Bay's full-time starter, leading the Packers to a 38-20 win over the Chicago Bears.
• Former Weber State receiver Rashid Shaheed ran for 11 yards and caught five passes for 89 yards, including 19-yard touchdown; returned two punts for six yards (3.0 yard average); and returned six kicks for 110 yards (22.0 yard average) in the Saints' 16-15 win over the Titans.
• Former Utah receiver Britain Covey was called up from the Eagles' practice squad, where he had a 25-yard punt return to set up a field goal in Philadelphia's 25-20 win over the Patriots.
• Former BYU and Corner Canyon quarterback Zach Wilson replaced Aaron Rodgers (ankle) after just four snaps and completed 14-of-21 passes for 140 yards, a touchdown, an interception and two sacks taken in the Jets' 22-16 overtime win over Buffalo on Monday Night Football.

Week 1 of the NFL's 2023 season wraps up Monday night when Aaron Rodgers makes his regular-season debut with the New York Jets in hosting upstate rival Buffalo.

Here's a look at how former Utah-based high school and college football players finished in Week 1.

Monday Night Football

New York 22, Buffalo 16 (OT)

Jets (1-0)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Replaced Aaron Rodgers (ankle) after four snaps, completed 14-of-21 passes for 140 yards, a touchdown and an interception with two sacks taken.

Bills (0-1)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Caught four passes for 26 yards in his NFL regular-season debut.
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting cornerback did not record a tackle or pass breakup.

Thursday

Detroit 21, Kansas City 20

Lions (1-0)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Starting right tackle played all 70 snaps on offense, three more on special teams.

Chiefs (0-1)

• Matt Bushman, TE, BYU: Called up from the practice squad and played seven snaps on offense.

Sunday

Atlanta 24, Carolina 10

Falcons (1-0)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for game-high 75 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns, and added three catches for 19 yards in 29 snaps on offense.
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback played 12 snaps on special teams.
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting inside linebacker totaled nine tackles, including six solo stops, while playing all 77 snaps on defense.

Panthers (0-1)

• Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful: Started at left guard and played all 77 snaps on offense and two more on special teams.

Baltimore 25, Houston 9

Ravens (1-0)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Inactive for Week 1.
• Marcus Williams, FS, Utah: Starting safety totaled four tackles in 24 snaps on defense.

Texans (0-1)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Reserve tight end caught two passes for four yards in 62 snaps on offense.

Cleveland 24, Cincinnati 3

Browns (1-0)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker totaled three tackles in 23 snaps on offense and 11 more on special teams.
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker played one snap on defense and 13 more on special teams.
• Siaki 'Apu' Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Inactive for Week 1.

Bengals (0-1)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve defensive back played two snaps on defense and nine on special teams.
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive tackle made one stop in three defensive snaps, played four more on special teams.

Jacksonville 31, Indianapolis 21

Jaguars (1-0)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had three tackles and a fumble recovery while playing all 77 snaps on defense and four more on special teams.

Colts (0-1)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Played three snaps on special teams.
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Went 3-for-3 on PATs with four kickoffs in seven snaps on special teams.

Tampa Bay 20, Minnesota 17

Buccaneers (1-0)

• Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State: Reserve receiver caught two passes for 10 yards in 18 snaps on offense, nine more on special teams.

Vikings (0-1)

• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Inactive for Week 1.
• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive lineman made one tackle in nine snaps on defense, five more on special teams.

New Orleans 16, Tennessee 15

Saints (1-0)

• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RET, Weber State: Reserve receiver ran for 11 yards and caught five passes for 89 yards, including 19-yard touchdown; returned two punts for six yards (3.0 yard average); and returned six kicks for 110 yards (22.0 yard average) in 35 snaps on offense and nine on special teams.
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Starting running back ran for team-high 45 yards on 18 carries, caught two passes for 7 yards in 49 offensive snaps.
• Taysom Hill, QB, BYU: Reserve quarterback ran for 4 yards on three carries, was targeted once as a receiver in nine snaps on offense, and made a tackle in eight snaps on special teams.
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker played 19 snaps on special teams.

Titans (0-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

San Francisco 30, Pittsburgh 7

49ers (1-0)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting middle linebacker totaled eight tackles, a quarterback hurry, one tackle for loss and a tipped pass that Talanoa Hufanga intercepted while playing all 63 snaps on defense, two on special teams.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted three times for 134 yards (44.7 yard average) with a long of 56 yards and three punts downed inside the 20, and kicked five kickoffs in 17 snaps on special teams.

Steelers (0-1)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back had 6 yards on three carries, caught five passes for 12 yards in 25 snaps on offense, with seven more on special teams.
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety had one tackle in 17 snaps on special teams.

Washington 20, Arizona 16

Commanders (1-0)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting middle linebacker made four tackles while playing all 62 snaps on defense.
• Tyler Larsen, OT, Utah State/Jordan: Played three snaps at tackle on special teams.

Cardinals (0-1)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Starting nose tackle had one tackle with a sack in 17 defensive snaps and four on special teams.
• Jackson Barton, OT, Utah/Brighton: Called up from the practice squad to play three snaps at tackle on special teams.

Green Bay 38, Chicago 20

Packers (1-0)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 15-of-27 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns, added 12 yards on three carries with a sack in playing 55 offensive snaps in his full-time starting debut.
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State/BYU: Reserve safety made one tackle in five snaps on defense and 22 on special teams.
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Inactive for Week 1.

Bears (0-1)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback had three tackles while playing all 60 snaps on defense, and one on special teams.
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle and played all 74 snaps on offense.
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker played 25 snaps on special teams.
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played six snaps on special teams.

Las Vegas 17, Denver 16

Raiders (1-0)

• Andre James, C, Herriman (via UCLA): Started at center and played all 59 snaps on offense.

Broncos (0-1)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle and played all 64 snaps on offense.

Miami 36, LA Chargers 34

Dolphins (1-0)

• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back played nine snaps on special teams.

Chargers (0-1)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Starting cornerback had six tackles, two passes defended while playing all 67 snaps on defense, and seven more on special teams.
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety had a team-high 11 tackles while playing all 67 snaps on defense, and nine more on special teams.

Philadelphia 25, New England 20

Eagles (1-0)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Reserve guard played six snaps on special teams.
• Britain Covey, WR/RET, Utah/Timpview: Called up from practice squad to return two punts for 30 yards (15.0 yard average) with one fair catch and a long return of 25 yards in five snaps on special teams.

Patriots (0-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Los Angeles 30, Seattle 13

Rams (1-0)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver set Rams rookie record with team-high 10 catches for 119 yards on 15 targets and 68 snaps on offense.
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive end totaled two tackles in 20 snaps on defense, and 12 more on special teams.

Seahawks (0-1)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting middle linebacker posted team-high 19 tackles and a tackle for loss while playing all 81 snaps on defense, and eight more on special teams.

Dallas 40, New York 0

Cowboys (1-0)

• No locals on the active roster.

Giants (0-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Related topics