Locals in the NFL: Fred Warner's pick helps 49ers snap 3-game skid

AROUND THE SHIELD — Fred Warner doesn't have a lot to prove in his sixth season in the NFL.

The 26-year-old 49ers linebacker is largely considered one of the best active middle linebackers in the league, a two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro effective in both coverage as well as rushing the quarterback.

But the San Francisco defense as a whole? Warner and his teammates had plenty to say after consecutive losses to Cleveland, Minnesota and Cincinnati.

Consider the message sent.

Warner had seven tackles and returned his third interception of the season 22 yards in the 49ers' 34-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, snapping a three-game losing skid with the 49ers' first win since Oct. 8.

"Obviously there's been — we had three games that just wasn't us," Warner said after the game, per the Mercury-News. "We had to get back to playing 49ers football, especially on the defensive side. I've spoken on it. We had to take pride in what we were putting on tape, and today I feel like we did that."

He also showed off his hands with a one-hop interception off Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence that Warner secured with both hands before a leisurely 22-yard return in the fourth quarter.

"Yeah, that was pretty tough," he joked with reporters. I have to say, Trevor Lawrence, he throws a good ball. It came as a nice spiral to me. That's my bad. I shouldn't say that."

Warner wasn't the only former local high school and college football standout to dominate on the defensive side of the ball.

• Former Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner totaled 10 tackles, a sack and two passes defended to help the Seattle Seahawks improve to 6-3 with a 29-26 win over the Washington Commanders.
• Former Utah and Layton High defensive back Julian Blackmon also had an interception, to go along with four tackles and two passes defended, in the Indianapolis Colts' 10-6 win over the New England Patriots.
• Former Judge Memorial linebacker Kaden Elliss, who played collegiately at Idaho, totaled 11 tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry in the Atlanta Falcons' 25-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
• And for the offensive crowd, former East High star Jaylen Warren had his first 100-yard rushing game of his career, bruising for 101 yards and a touchdown in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 23-19 win over the Green Bay Packers.
• Former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid caught five passes for 51 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown in the first half, in the Buffalo Bills' 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos. The score was the 202nd career offensive touchdown for Bills quarterback Josh Allen, trailing only Patrick Mahomes (204) for the most all-time in a player's first six seasons.

Here's a look at other former local greats in Week 10 of the NFL's 2023 regular season.

Monday Night Football

Denver 24, Buffalo 22

Broncos (4-5)

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

Bills (5-5)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Starting tight end caught five passes for 51 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting cornerback notched seven tackles and forced a fumble on defense.

Sunday Night Football

Las Vegas 16, NY Jets 12

Raiders (5-5)

• Andre James, C, Herriman (via UCLA): Started at center on offense.

Jets (4-5)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed 23-of-39 passes for 263 yards and an interception with two sacks taken, and ran four times for 54 yards on offense.

Sunday afternoon

Indianapolis 10, New England 6

Colts (5-5)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Rotated at offensive tackle.
• Julian Blackmon, FS, Utah/Layton: Starting strong safety made four tackles, two passes defended and an interception on defense.
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked a 51-yard field goal, a PAT and three kickoffs on special teams.
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Reserve running back ran for 2 yards on offense.

Patriots (2-8)

• No locals on the active roster.

Cleveland 33, Baltimore 31

Browns (6-3)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker made three tackles on defense.
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams.
• Siaki Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Inactive for Week 10.

Ravens (7-3)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play.
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Starting safety made two tackles on defense.
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker made three tackles on defense.

Houston 30, Cincinnati 27

Texans (5-4)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught four passes for 71 yards on offense.

Bengals (5-4)

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

San Francisco 34, Jacksonville 3

49ers (6-3)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting mike linebacker posted seven tackles, a pass defended and a 22-yard interception return on defense.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted three times for 141 yards (47.0 yards per punt) with two punts downed inside the 20 on special teams.

Jaguars (6-3)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker posted team-high 10 tackles.

Minnesota 27, New Orleans 19

Vikings (6-4)

• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Inactive for Week 10.
• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive tackle also played on special teams.

Saints (5-5)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Starting tight end caught two passes for 17 yards and ran for six yards on offense.
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 7 yards on four carries, caught one pass for three yards on offense.
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams.
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Reserve receiver caught five passes for 24 yards on offense, returned two punts for 22 yards with four fair catches, and returned two kickoffs for 54 yards on special teams.

Pittsburgh 23, Green Bay 19

Steelers (6-3)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for 101 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and caught two passes for nine yards.
• Miles KIllebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety also played on special teams.

Packers (3-6)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 21-of-40 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions with one sack taken and two rushes for 11 yards.
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State: Reserve safety also played on special teams.
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams.

Tampa Bay 20, Tennessee 6

Buccaneers (4-5)

• Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State: Reserve receiver caught one pass for 5 yards and added a 6-yard rush on offense; returned two punts for 15 yards on special teams.

Titans (3-6)

• No locals on the active roster.

Arizona 25, Atlanta 23

Cardinals (2-8)

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

Falcons (4-6)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 31 yards on nine carries, caught a 7-yard pass on offense.
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback had one tackle and a pass defended on defense.
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker totaled 11 tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry on defense.

Detroit 41, LA Chargers 38

Lions (7-2)

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

Chargers (4-5)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback on defense.
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety made seven tackles and a pass defended on defense.

Seattle 29, Washington 26

Seahawks (6-3)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting middle linebacker posted 10 tackles, a sack and two passes defended on defense.

Commanders (4-6)

• Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State/Jordan: Started at center on offense.

Thursday Night Football

Chicago 16, Carolina 13

Bears (3-7)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made one tackle in 60 snaps on defense.
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played 10 snaps on special teams.
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Starting left tackle played all 72 offensive snaps.
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker made one tackle in 21 snaps on special teams.

Panthers (1-8)

• No locals on the active roster.

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