Locals in the NFL, Week 14: Pass catching tackle Penei Sewell helps keep Lions rolling

AROUND THE SHIELD — The Detroit Lions are on a roll, with five wins in their last six games and in pursuit of a possible wild card berth out of the NFC.

That may seem impossible for a team that was once 1-6. And while former BYU running back Jamaal Williams continues to play a key role in Dan Campbell's turnaround in the Motor City with a league-leading 14 rushing touchdowns on the season, it was another former local standout who stole the show in Sunday's 34-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Facing a third-and-7 after the two-minute warning with the 9-point lead, starting right tackle Penei Sewell reported as eligible for the second time in the game. Rather than hand off to Williams for a run like he did the time prior, quarterback Jared Goff found Sewell for the first catch of the tackle's career on a 9-yard gain.

He clinched a vital first down that — along with a fumble on a Hail Mary attempt in the waning seconds — helped the Lions hold on for a win.

That's 335 pounds of pure poetry in motion. Campbell even joked that the former Desert Hills High star could be an NFL tight end, "if he wanted to lose weight."

Just like Detroit drew it up, right?

"It was no different than any other play, to be honest with you," Goff said. "I made sure Penei knew the situation, not to run out of bounds, just go down once you get the first down. It was like any other play we had."

Every Friday during practice, Goff throws passes to some unconventional receivers, with Sewell being among them.

It just so happened that the drill became a reality when Campbell reached into his bag of tricks and pulled out the number for the 6-foot-5, 335-pound lineman with the soft hands.

"We joked last week that we've won every game where they've caught balls on the Friday before, because we didn't do it for the Thursday game. We didn't have time," Goff said. "So we'll continue to do that, and Penei's got pretty good hands."

A pass catcher wearing No. 58? If nothing else, the internet loved it; the Vikings, not so much.

"I don't think they were ready for that one," Sewell deadpanned in the locker room after the game. "I was pretty wide open."

As Sewell said in slightly saltier tones, coach Campbell has stones.

"Dan Campbell is going to be him, and nobody's going to change that," Sewell told the Detroit News. "And that's what I love about him."

Williams started at running back and ran for 37 yards on 16 carries after predicting the Lions' win on Detroit's local FOX affiliate before the game.

Here's how other former high school and college football standouts from Utah performed in Week 14 of the 2022 NFL regular season.

Teams on bye:

• Atlanta Falcons (5-8): RB Tyler Allgeier (BYU)
• Chicago Bears (3-10): CB Jaylon Johnson (Utah), LS Patrick Scales (Utah State/Weber), OT Braxton Jones (Southern Utah/Murray)
• Green Bay Packers (5-8): QB Jordan Love (Utah State), S Dallin Leavitt (Utah State/BYU), LB Tipa Galeai (Utah State)
• Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1): S Julian Blackmon (Utah/Layton), RB Zack Moss (Utah)
• New Orleans Saints (4-9): TE Taysom Hill (BYU), S Daniel Sorensen (BYU), WR/RS Rashid Shaheed (Weber State), LB Chase Hansen (Utah/Lone Peak), LB Kaden Elliss (Judge Memorial)
• Washington Commanders (7-5-1): WR Dax Milne (BYU/Bingham), OC Tyler Larsen (Utah State/Jordan)

Monday Night Football

New England Patriots 27, Arizona Cardinals 13

Patriots (6-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Cardinals (4-8)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Reserve lineman made one tackle on defense

Sunday Night Football

LA Chargers 23, Miami 17

Chargers (7-6)

• Kyle Van Noy, EDGE, BYU: Starting edge rusher had two tackles for loss and his first sack of the season on defense
• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Starting cornerback made two tackles with two passes defended and a penalty on defense
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem: Starting safety totaled three tackles, a pass defended and forced a fumble on defense that Miami's Tyreek Hill recovered for a 57-yard touchdown

Dolphins (8-5)

• Eric Rowe, DB, Utah: Starting safety posted eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a 4-yard sack on defense

Sunday afternoon

Buffalo 20, NY Jets 12

Bills (10-3)

• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting cornerback made eight tackles, one pass defended on defense

Jets (7-6)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 14

Cincinnati 23, Cleveland 10

Bengals (9-4)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback made one tackle on defense
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham: Active, but did not play

Browns (5-8)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Placed on injured reserve this week (knee)

Dallas 27, Houston 23

Cowboys (10-3)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham: Starting tight end caught team-high six passes for 87 yards on offense, made one tackle on interception return

Texans (1-11-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Detroit 34, Minnesota 23

Lions (6-7)

• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Starting running back ran for 37 yards on 16 carries on offense,
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills: Starting right tackle also caught first career pass for 9 yards and a first down on offense

Vikings (10-3)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive tackle made two stops on defense

Philadelphia 48, NY Giants 22

Eagles (12-1)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Inactive for Week 14
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Returned four punts for 29 yards, holder for two field goals after an injury to the punter

Giants (7-5-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Baltimore 16, Pittsburgh 14

Ravens (9-4)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Starting quarterback completed 8-of-12 passes for 88 yards, ran nine times for 31 yards before exiting with an injury (concussion) in the second half
• Marcus Williams, FS, Utah: Starting safety had an interception, three tackles and a pass defended on defense in first game back from injured reserve

Steelers (5-8)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East: Reserve running back ran for 11 yards on three carries, caught two passes for 16 yards on offense, made one tackle on special teams
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams

Jacksonville 36, Tennessee 22

Jaguars (5-8)

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

Titans (7-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Kansas City 34, Denver 28

Chiefs (10-3)

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

Broncos (3-10)

• Harvey Langi, LB, BYU/Bingham: Reserve linebacker played mostly on special teams

Carolina 30, Seattle 24

Panthers (5-8)

• Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful: Started at left guard on offense

Seahawks (7-6)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker had a team-high 15 tackles, one pass defended on defense
• Bryan Mone, DT, Highland: Reserve defensive lineman had five tackles, one tackle for loss on defense

San Francisco 35, Tampa Bay 7

49ers (9-4)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker totaled eight tackles on defense
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted three times for 134 yards (44.7 yard average) with one punt downed inside the 20 and five snaps at holder on special teams

Buccaneers (6-7)

• No locals on the active roster

Thursday Night Football

LA Rams 17, Las Vegas 16

Rams (4-9)

• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked 55-yard field goal, two PATs, four kickoffs in eight snaps on special teams
• Bobby Wagner, MLB, Utah State: Starting linebacker had team-high 14 tackles while playing all 60 defensive snaps and five more on special teams
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive tackle made one tackle in 56 snaps on defense, nine more on special teams

Raiders (5-8)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman: Starting center played all 60 snaps on offense
• Jackson Barton, OT, Utah/Brighton: Reserve tackle played four snaps on special teams

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