Locals in the NFL: Taron Johnson's fumble and a record field goal lift Bills to 4th straight win

AROUND THE SHIELD — Taron Johnson picked a pretty, pretty good time to force his first fumble of the season.

The former Weber State star who forced a career-high three fumbles a year ago in Buffalo jarred the ball loose from Miami running back Raheem Mostert on the first drive of the second half, helping set up Josh Allen's 1-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins.

The turnover helped the Bills turn a 10-6 halftime deficit into a 12-10 edge en route to a 30-27 win over the Miami Dolphins to highlight Week 9 of the 2024 NFL regular season.

But for Johnson, who briefly left the game in the second quarter with a back bruise, it was just about doing his job.

"That's the name of the game, though; you've got to get turnovers," said Johnson, the starting nickel who also had four tackles in the victory. "We did that, thankfully. When you get turnovers at certain points of the game, it changes the tide, for sure."

The crucial win over an AFC East rival came via a dramatic, franchise-record 61-yard field goal by Tyler Bass, lifting the Bills (7-2) to their fourth win in a row.

"That was an amazing play by T-Bass," Johnson said. "I'm just thankful he made it."

Here's a look at how other former Utah high school and college football standouts performed in Week 9 of the 2024 NFL regular season.

Monday Night Football

Tampa Bay vs. Kansas City

Buccaneers (4-4)

• No locals on the active roster

Chiefs (7-0)

• Kingsley Suamtaia, OT, BYU/Orem

Sunday Night Football

Minnesota 21, Indianapolis 13

Vikings (6-2)

• Taki Taimani, DT, East (via Oregon): Placed on injured reserve (ankle)

Colts (5-4)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Active, but did not play
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting safety made seven tackles
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Converted field goals of 42 and 54 yards and an extra point with three kickoffs

Sunday afternoon

Los Angeles 26, Seattle 20 (OT)

Rams (4-4)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver caught one pass for 11 yards on offense, and made one tackle on an interception return before being ejected with a personal foul for fighting
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive end also played on special teams

Seahawks (4-5)

• Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah: Inactive for Week 9

Atlanta 27, Dallas 21

Falcons (6-3)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve tailback ran for 18 yards on six carries, including a 6-yard touchdown on offense
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback also played on special teams
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker totaled team-high 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and three quarterback hits on defense

Cowboys (3-5)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Reserve linebacker made two tackles on special teams

Baltimore 41, Denver 10

Ravens (6-3)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had three tackles on defense
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Starting safety made three tackles on defense

Broncos (5-4)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 9
• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker made seven tackles on defense
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on defense
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Reserve receiver caught two passes for 11 yards on offense

Buffalo 30, Miami 27

Bills (7-2)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Starting tight end caught four passes for 32 yards on offense
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel had four tackles and a forced fumble on defense

Dolphins (2-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Carolina 23, New Orleans 22

Panthers (2-7)

• Brady Christensen, OL, BYU/Bountiful: Started at left tackle

Saints (2-7)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Starting tight end caught four passes for 41 yards and ran for 19 yards on five carries, including a 7-yard touchdown on offense
• Dallin Holker, TE, BYU/Lehi (via Colorado State): Reserve tight end made one tackle on special teams
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Inactive for Week 9

Cincinnati 41, Las Vegas 24

Bengals (4-5)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted three times for 175 yards (58.3 yards per punt) with one touchback
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Inactive for Week 9
• Tanner McLachlan, TE, Southern Utah (via Arizona): Inactive for Week 9
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Inactive for Week 9

Raiders (2-7)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Inactive for Week 9
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Started at center

Los Angeles 27, Cleveland 10

Chargers (5-3)

• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Reserve wide receiver was targeted once on offense before leaving with an injury (elbow)
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety had five tackles with an interception on defense

Browns (2-7)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had four tackles and a pass defended on defense

Washington 27, New York 22

Commanders (7-2)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback also played on special teams
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker totaled seven tackles and recovered a fumble on defense

Giants (2-7)

• No locals on the active roster

Tennessee 20, New England 17

Titans (2-6)

• Gabe Jeudy-Lally, BYU (via Tennessee): Reserve cornerback played four snaps on special teams

Patriots (2-7)

• No locals on the active roster

Arizona 29, Chicago 9

Cardinals (4-4)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive tackle also played on special teams

Bears (4-3)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback had two tackles and a tackle for loss on defense
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Inactive for Week 9
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams

Philadelphia 28, Jacksonville 23

Eagles (5-2)

• No locals on the active roster

Jaguars (2-6)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker made eight tackles on defense

Detroit 24, Green Bay 14

Lions (6-1)

• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Inactive for Week 9
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Started at right tackle
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Starting wide receiver caught two passes for 12 yards

Packers (6-2)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 23-of-39 passes for 273 yards and an interception, threw for 2-point conversion and recovered two of three fumbles
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety also played on special teams
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 13 yards on two carries, caught three passes for 28 yards

Thursday Night Football

New York 21, Houston 13

Jets (3-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Texans (6-3)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught three passes for 21 yards in 56 offensive snaps

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