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AROUND THE SHIELD — Making a roster as a rookie football player is a chore, save for the earliest draft picks every April.
Ryan Rehkow performed all of his chores in Cincinnati, though.
The undrafted rookie punter out of BYU was named to the initial 53-man roster by the Bengals, which unveiled a 2024 roster filled with youth.
All 10 of Cincinnati's picks from April's NFL draft made the roster, as well as fellow rookie free agent Maema Njongmeta, a linebacker out of Wisconsin. Rehkow is the Bengals' second straight rookie punter for opening day, the team says, and the first punter from BYU to kick for Cincinnati since Super Bowl champion Lee Johnson from 1988-98.
After going undrafted in April, Rehkow signed with the Kansas City Chiefs but was cut in June and signed with the Bengals before training camp.
He'll likely be on the roster for a while, too. The Bengals designated second-year punter Brad Robbins for IR-return with a hip injury, meaning he'll be eligible to return after the fourth week.
Rehkow wasn't the only surprise player who made the 53-man roster with his NFL team Tuesday. Former BYU star Zach Wilson was one of three quarterbacks retained by the Denver Broncos, along with rookie starter Bo Nix and veteran Jarrett Stidham.
The Corner Canyon alum who was drafted second overall by the New York Jets in 2021 appeared to be on the chopping block when the Broncos acquired him from the Jets in the offseason. But Wilson went on to perform well during Denver's preseason, including a 251-yard, two-touchdown passing performance with another rushing score in the Broncos' 38-12 win over Arizona in Sunday's preseason finale.
Now he's just trying to be a good teammate, he told Denver media after the game.
"I told him I'm excited for him for this opportunity," Wilson said of his reaction to Nix being named the starter. "I really believe they're putting him in a good situation. I think Sean (Payton) has done a phenomenal job and ... we have a great offensive staff. I think they do a great job. And then Bo has just continued to keep getting better."
Another former in-state quarterback, Utah's Tyler Huntley, was on the initial 53-man roster of the Cleveland Browns, who kept four quarterbacks but waived former BYU running back Aidan Robbins, Weber State and Copper Hills linebacker Winston Reid, and East High (via Baylor) defensive tackle Siaki "Apu" Ika in the final days of the preseason.
Former Utah wide receiver Tim Patrick was waived by the Broncos, but is expected to sign with the Detroit Lions' practice squad, per ESPN.
Here's a look at other former Utah high school and college football players who were waived as all 32 NFL teams unveiled initial 53-man rosters, per NFL.com:
Waived/released Tuesday:
- Max Tooley, LB, BYU/Bountiful High — Waived by Houston Texans
- Tim Patrick, WR, Utah — Released by Denver Broncos
- Cole Fotheringham, TE, Utah — Waived by Las Vegas Raiders
- Chris Brooks, RB, BYU — Waived by Miami Dolphins with injury designation
- Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills — Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list by New Orleans Saints
- Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU — Waived by Carolina Panthers
- Keaton Bills, OG, Utah/Corner Canyon — Waived by Buffalo Bills
- Samson Nacua, WR, BYU/Utah/Timpview — Waived by New Orleans Saints
- Jackson Barton, OT, Utah/Brighton — Released by Arizona Cardinals
- Isaac Rex, TE, BYU — Waived by Los Angeles Chargers
- Clark Barrington, OL, BYU — Waived by Las Vegas Raiders
- Javelin Guidry, CB, Utah — Released by Detroit Lions
- Dax Milne, WR, BYU/Bingham — Waived by Las Vegas Raiders
- Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU — Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list by New England Patriots
- Marquise Blair, S, Utah — Released by Seattle Seahawks
- Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB, BYU — Waived by Tennessee Titans
- Thomas Yassmin, TE, Utah — Waived by Denver Broncos
- Andrew Peasley, QB, Utah State — Waived by New York Jets
- Winston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills — Waived by Cleveland Browns
- Isaiah Wooden, WR, Southern Utah — Waived by Los Angeles Chargers
- Cameron Latu, TE, Olympus — Waived by San Francisco 49ers
- Siaki Ika, DT, East — Waived by Cleveland Browns
- Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont — Waived by Dallas Cowboys
Waived/released before Tuesday:
- Kaleb Hayes, CB, BYU — Waived by Denver Broncos
- Miles Battle, CB, Utah — Waived by Kansas City Chiefs
- Aidan Robbins, RB, BYU — Waived by Cleveland Browns
- Clayton Isbell, S, Utah — Waived bt New York Giants
- Bradlee Anae, DE/LB, Utah — Released by Atlanta Falcons
- Terrell Burgess, S, Utah — Placed on injured reserve by Buffalo Bills
- Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State — Waived with injury settlement by Carolina Panthers
- Bryan Thompson, WR, Utah — Placed on injured reserve by Buffalo Bills
