Locals in the NFL: Zack Moss proves worth to Colts with 2-touchdown showcase vs. Titans

AROUND THE SHIELD — In a week where former NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor signed a multi-year extension with Indianapolis, Zack Moss proved his worth with the Colts.

The former Utah running back ran for a career-high 165 yards and two touchdowns to power the Colts past the Tennessee Titans 23-16.

"Man, Zack's been tough," said Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew, who finished the game after starter Anthony Richardson left early with an AC joint injury in his shoulder. "He's been toting the mail for us — a lot of carries, a lot of hard yards and I'm really proud of him and happy for him. Happy for myself as a fantasy owner with Zack Moss. He had a really good stretch and picked him in (training) camp. I had a good feeling."

Playing behind an offensive line that started former BYU and Herriman High standout Blake Freeland at left tackle, Moss averaged 7.2 yards on 23 carries, including a 56-yard scoring run to cap the first quarter as Indianapolis (3-2) took a 7-3 lead and never trailed again.

Playing with two quarterbacks wasn't a problem, either.

"I've said it before, Gardner's a pro," Moss told reporters in the Colts' locker room. "When he came in, no one was like, 'Oh snap, what's going to happen now?' He's helped us win games … and we knew what we had. At the end of the day, all of our missions are the same: it's to help this team win games."

Moss wasn't the only former Utah football player to put on a show in the Colts' Week 5 win.

Matt Gay, the Orem High product whose career began on the Utah Valley men's soccer team, kicked field goals of 43, 35 and 28 yards. Julian Blackmon added four tackles, including a solo stop.

And with the Titans driving for the potential game-tying touchdown in the final minutes, the former Layton High standout picked off Ryan Tannehill at the 42-yard line with 17 seconds remaining to ice the contest.

But the star of the day was Moss, who proved his worth on the same weekend Taylor inked a reported three-year, $42 million extension to stay in Indiana.

"It's a great one-two punch with both these guys," Colts coach Shane Steichen said. "Zack's seeing it well, getting J.T. back in the fold with his big play ability — to have those guys back in the backfield is going to be huge going forward."

Here are three other highlights from former Utah high school and college football standouts on Week 5 of the 2023 NFL regular season:

• Former BYU and Orem High receiver Puka Nacua caught seven passes (on 11 targets) for 71 yards and a touchdown on the same day Cooper Kupp made his season debut in the Los Angeles Rams' 23-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles
• Former BYU and Corner Canyon quarterback Zach Wilson completed 19-of-26 passes for 199 yards and an interception with five sacks taken as the New York Jets snapped a three-game losing skid with a 31-21 win over the Denver Broncos.
• Former Southern Utah safety Miles Killebrew blocked a punt out of bounds for a safety as the Pittsburgh Steelers scored 14-unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat the Baltimore Ravens 17-10.

Monday Night Football

Green Bay Packers at Las Vegas Raiders

Packers (2-2)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State/BYU
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury

Raiders (1-3)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA)

Sunday Night Football

San Francisco 42, Dallas 10

49ers (5-0)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker posted game-high eight tackles, a sack, a quarterback hit, an interception and a forced fumble on defense.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted four times for 187 yards (46.8 yard average) with two punts downed inside the 20.

Cowboys (3-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Sunday afternoon

Jacksonville 25, Buffalo 20

Jaguars (3-2)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Inactive for Week 5.

Bills (3-2)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Reserve tight end caught two passes for 19 yards on offense.
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel had three tackles and a quarterback hurry on defense.

Atlanta 21, Houston 19

Falcons (3-2)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 40 yards on 17 carries, and converted a 2-point conversion on offense.
• Clark Phillips II, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback also played on special teams.
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker made six tackles on defense.

Texans (2-3)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught seven passes for 65 yards and a touchdown on offense.

Detroit 42, Carolina 24

Lions (4-1)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Started at right tackle on offense.

Panthers (0-5)

• No locals on the active roster.

Indianapolis 23, Tennessee 16

Colts (3-2)

• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Starting running back ran for career-high 165 yards and two touchdowns, caught two passes for 30 yards on offense.
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting strong safety had five tackles, an interception and a pass defended on defense.
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Starting kicker made field goals of 43, 35 and 28 yards, two point-after touchdowns and five kickoffs on special teams.
• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Started at left tackle on offense.

Titans (2-3)

• No locals on the active roster.

Miami 31, New York 16

Dolphins (4-1)

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

Giants (1-4)

• No locals on the active roster.

New Orleans 34, New England 0

Saints (3-2)

• Taysom Hill, QB/TE, BYU: Reserve utility player ran for 19 yards on three carries, caught one pass for 1 yard on offense.
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on defense.
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting wide receiver caught two passes for 28 yards on offense, returned three punts for 22 yards and three fair catches and added an 18-yard kickoff return on special teams.

Patriots (1-4)

• No locals on the active roster.

Pittsburgh 17, Baltimore 10

Steelers (3-2)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for team-high 40 yards on nine carries, caught three passes for 39 yards on offense.
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety blocked a punt out of bounds in the end zone for a safety, and added a tackle on special teams.

Ravens (3-2)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play in Week 5.
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Starting free safety made five tackles on defense.

Cincinnati 34, Arizona 20

Bengals (2-3)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve defensive back also played on special teams.
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive lineman also played on special teams.

Cardinals (1-4)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Uah/Herriman: Starting defensive tackle made three stops on defense.

Philadelphia 23, LA Rams 14

Eagles (5-0)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Started at right guard on offense.
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Returned two punts for 35 yards with a fair catch on special teams.

Rams (2-3)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver caught seven passes for 71 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown in the second quarter that gave the Rams a 14-10 lead.
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive end made four tackles on defense.

New York 31, Denver 21

Jets (2-3)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed 19-of-26 passes for 199 yards and an interception with four sacks taken, and ran for 26 yards with two fumbles (none lost) on three carries on offense.

Broncos (1-4)

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

Kansas City 27, Minnesota 20

Chiefs (4-1)

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

Vikings (1-4)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Inactive for Week 5.
• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Active, but did not play.

Thursday Night Football

Chicago 40, Washington 20

Bears (1-4)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Inactive for Week 5.
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Starting long snapper played 11 snaps on special teams.
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker played 22 snaps on special teams.

Commanders (2-3)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting middle linebacker had team-high eight tackles in 64 snaps on defense.
• Tyler Larsen, OC, Utah State/Jordan: Reserve center played three snaps on special teams.

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