Locals in the NFL: Former BYU starter Jaren Hall makes NFL debut with heavy heart

AROUND THE SHIELD — Jaren Hall didn't necessarily want to be there at that moment.

Not making his NFL debut in the Minnesota Vikings' 24-10 win over the Green Bay Packers. Hall just felt somber as he took the podium to address the media after completing 3-of-4 passes for 23 yards in the win.

The former BYU starter and Maple Mountain alum spoke emotionally about the reason he was there, and about starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, who left the game with what is feared to be an Achilles' injury.

After throwing for 275 yards and two touchdowns, Cousins limped to the sideline after suffering a non-contact injury in the fourth quarter. At 35 years old, an Achilles' injury to the four-time Pro Bowler could be detrimental to the career of Cousins, who was on pace to have a career year with 2,057 yards and 16 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

So naturally, Cousins was on Hall's mind.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Kirk. I've really got no words for it; it breaks your heart," an emotional Hall said after the game. "That guy's the leader of the team, he's the heart and soul of the team, had such a great season to this point and it's been an honor and so fun to watch. … That's the guy that we pray for. Thoughts and prayers for him and his family right now."

Minnesota evened its record to 4-4 with Sunday's third-straight win, including a 2-0 start to NFC North play. Cousins was a big reason for that turnaround.

Now it may be on Hall to lead the Vikings for the interim. Just as he tries to be prepared every week, at least since Minnesota put Nick Mullens on injured reserve with a stress fracture in his back.

"I have a great coaching staff around me," Hall said. "They've done a great job of preparing all of us each and every week, making sure that we dot our i's and cross our t's. That's just the professional approach you take, and I pride myself on preparation. Once you get on the field, it's just a game and I feel like I'm more than capable of doing whatever is asked of me."

Even through an aura of somberness following Cousins' injury, Hall's teammates and coaches projected confidence in the backup.

There's a reason the Vikings selected the 25-year-old signal caller from Spanish Fork with the No. 164 pick in the fifth round in April's NFL draft.

"I thought Jaren did a nice job. It's not easy to come in cold, and get a couple of completions and a big third-down completion to TJ," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said. "Every single offensive player told me he was very good with his communication, snap count, cadence. … I thought Jaren was incredibly cool, calm and collected. We'll definitely talk about what's next moving forward. But it's going to take our entire football team to rally around Kirk."

The Vikings are back on the road next Sunday to face the Atlanta Falcons, who are 4-4 after a 28-23 loss to Tennessee.

Here are other former local high school and college football standouts from Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season:

• Former BYU and Corner Canyon quarterback Zach Wilson completed 17-of-36 passes for 240 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown to Breece Hall in the New York Jets' overtime win over the Giants. Wilson is the first quarterback since 2000 to win a game with multiple 25-yard completions in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter, when the Jets (4-3) rallied to set up Greg Zuerlein's game-tying 35-yard field goal as time expired.
• Former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill rushed nine times for 63 yards and two touchdowns, completed a 44-yard pass, and caught a pass for 14 yards in the New Orleans Saints' 38-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts, and former Weber State star Rashid Shaheed caught three passes for a game-high 153 yards and a touchdown for the Saints (4-4).
• Former Utah running back Zack Moss ran for 66 yards and a score in the Colts' loss, his fourth touchdown in four weeks for Indianapolis (3-5).

Monday Night Football

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Detroit Lions

Raiders (3-4)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman

Lions (5-2)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon)

Sunday Night Football

Los Angeles 30, Chicago 13

Chargers (3-4)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Starting cornerback made four tackles on defense.
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Reserve receiver caught one pass for a 9-yard touchdown on offense, the first of his career.
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety had a pass defended on defense.

Bears (2-6)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback had three tackles and a pass defended on defense.
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played four snaps on special teams.
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker also made a tackle on special teams.

Sunday afternoon

Carolina 15, Houston 13

Panthers (1-6)

• No locals on the active roster.

Texans (3-4)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught two passes for 5 yards on offense.

Dallas 43, Los Angeles 20

Cowboys (5-2)

• No locals on the active roster.

Rams (3-5)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting receiver caught three passes for 43 yards on offense.
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive end made three tackles on defense.

Minnesota 24, Green Bay 10

Vikings (4-4)

• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Backup quarterback completed 3-of-4 passes for 23 yards with a sack taken and a fumble, and ran twice for -1 yards on offense.
• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Rotated on defensive line.

Packers (2-5)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 24-of-41 passes for 229 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and ran four times for 34 yards on offense.
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State: Reserve safety also played on special teams.
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Inactive for Week 8.

New Orleans 38, Indianapolis 27

Saints (4-4)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Starting tight end ran nine times for 63 yards and two touchdowns, completed a 44-yard pass, and caught a 14-yard reception on offense.
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve tailback ran six times for 30 yards, caught an 8-yard pass on offense.
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Reserve receiver caught three passes for game-high 153 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown on offense, and fielded four punts for 46 yards with a fair catch on special teams.

Colts (3-5)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Started at right tackle.
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Reserve running back ran 11 times for 66 yards and a touchdown, and caught an 8-yard pass on offense.
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting strong safety had six tackles and a tackle for loss on defense.
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked field goals of 20 and 42 yards, three PATs and five kickoffs on special teams.

Miami 31, New England 17

Dolphins (6-2)

• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Placed on injured reserve.

Patriots (2-6)

• No locals on the active roster.

NY Jets 13, NY Giants 10

Jets (4-3)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Completed 17-of-36 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown, and ran four times for team high 25 yards on offense.

Giants (2-6)

• No locals on the active roster.

Jacksonville 20, Pittsburgh 10

Jaguars (6-2)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker totaled nine tackles and a pass defended on defense.

Steelers (4-3)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back had team-high 19 yards on five carries, caught four passes for 19 yards on offense.
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety had two tackles and a tackle for loss on defense, added a tackle on special teams.

Tennessee 28, Atlanta 23

Titans (3-4)

• No locals on the active roster.

Falcons (4-4)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 31 yards on eight carries on offense.
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Inactive for Week 8.
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker made team-high eight stops with a quarterback hurry on defense.

Philadelphia 38, Washington 31

Eagles (7-1)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Started at right guard.
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Fielded one punt for 25 yards with a fair catch.

Commanders (3-5)

• Tyler Larsen, OC, Utah State/Jordan: Starting center also had a tackle on an interception return.

Seattle 24, Cleveland 20

Seahawks (5-2)

• Bobby Wagner, MLB, Utah State: Starting linebacker poured in a team-high 13 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defender on defense.

Browns (4-3)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.
• Siaki Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Inactive for Week 8.

Baltimore 31, Arizona 24

Ravens (6-2)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play.
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Inactive for Week 8.
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Reserve edge rusher had one tackle on defense.

Cardinals (1-7)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Starting nose tackle had one tackle on defense.

Denver 24, Kansas City 9

Broncos (3-5)

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

Chiefs (6-2)

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

Cincinnati 31, San Francisco 17

Bengals (4-3)

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

49ers (5-3)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker tied for team high with 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery on defense.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted three times for 151 yards (47.7 yards per punt), with two punts downed inside the 20 on special teams.

Thursday Night Football

Buffalo 24, Tampa Bay 18

Bills (5-3)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Starting tight end five passes for 65 yards and his first career touchdown in 58 snaps on offense.
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting cornerback had six tackles and a sack in 68 snaps on defense.

Buccaneers (3-4)

• Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State: Reserve receiver fielded one punt and two kickoffs for 44 yards with a fumble recovered in 11 snaps on offense and nine on special teams.

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