14 Locals Start In Week Two Preseason NFL Action

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As the locals from the state of Utah try to make the 53-man roster, 14 locals started for their respective NFL teams during the second week of the NFL season.

Some big time plays were made from players like former Utah punter Mitch Wishnowsky with the San Francisco 49ers, former Utah kicker Matt Gay nailing the game-winning field goal for Tampa Bay and former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill racking up yards with the New Orleans Saints.

Here is how the locals performed during Week 2 of the NFL preseason:

Former Utes

Pita Taumoepenu, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Taumoepenu played 3 snaps on defense and 2 snaps on special teams, but didn’t record any statistics in the Cardinals’ 33-26 loss to the Oakland Raiders.
Next Up: at Minnesota Vikings, Saturday at 11 a.m. on NFL Network.

Pasoni Tasini, DL, Arizona Cardinals
Tasini finished with one tackle in the Cardinals’ 33-26 loss to the Oakland Raiders.
Next Up: at Minnesota Vikings, Saturday at 11 a.m. on NFL Network.

Star Lotulelei, DL, Buffalo Bills
Lotulelei started on the defensive line and played 12 snaps on defense, but didn’t record any statistics in the Bills’ 27-14 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Next Up: at Detroit Lions, Friday at 6 p.m. on CBS.

Corrion Ballard, S, Carolina Panthers
Ballard played eight snaps on defense and four on special teams, but didn’t record any statistics in the Panthers’ 27-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Next Up: at New England Patriots, Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Jared Norris, LB, Carolina Panthers
The former Ute picked up four tackles, two assisted and two solo as the Panthers lost to the Buffalo Bills 27-14.
Next Up: at New England Patriots, Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Kylie Fitts, DE, Chicago Bears
Fitts started at outside linebacker and recorded three tackles, including one for loss in the Bears’ 32-13 loss to the New York Giants.
Next Up: at Indianapolis Colts, Saturday at 5 p.m.

Devontae Booker, RB, Denver Broncos
Booker had four carries for 15 yards, while hauling in two catches for eight yards in the Broncos’ 24-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Next Up: at Los Angeles Rams, Saturday at 7 p.m.

Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos
Patrick recorded one reception or 12 yards as well as one carry for 10 yards as the Broncos lost to the San Francisco 49ers 24-15.
Next Up: at Los Angeles Rams, Saturday at 7 p.m.

Garett Bolles, OL, Denver Broncos
Bolles started at left tackle and played 33 snaps on offense in the Broncos’ 24-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Next Up: at Los Angeles Rams, Saturday at 7 p.m.

Jackson Barton, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Barton played 31 snaps on offense and one on special teams in the Colts’ 21-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Next Up: vs. Chicago Bears, Saturday at 5 p.m.

Hunter Dimick, DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Dimick had one tackle in the Chiefs’ 17-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Next Up: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Saturday at 6 p.m.

Sam Tevi, OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Tevi started at right tackle and participated in 32 offensive snaps and 3 on special teams in the Chargers’ 19-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Next Up: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Saturday at 8 p.m. on NFL Network.

Dominique Hatfield, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Hatfield played 33 snaps on defense and 6 on special teams, but didn’t record any statistics in the Rams’ 14-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Next Up: vs. Denver Broncos, Saturday at 7 p.m.

Nate Orchard, DE, Miami Dolphins
The former Ute had two tackles, one sack and three hits on the quarterback as the Dolphins lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-14.
Next Up: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday at 6 p.m. on FOX.

Eric Rowe, CB, Miami Dolphins
Rowe started at cornerback and one tackle and a fumble recovery in the first quarter in the Dolphins’ 16-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Next Up: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday at 6 p.m. on FOX.

Other way. Our ball.

📺 » @CBSMiami#MIAvsTB #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/iVZdaRGM14

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 16, 2019

Marcus Williams, S, New Orleans Saints
Williams started at free safety and had two tackles in the Saints’ 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Next Up: at New York Jets, Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Brian Allen, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Allen recorded a tackle in his preseason debut as the Steelers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 17-7.
Next Up: at Tennessee Titans, Sunday at 6 p.m. on KSL 5 TV.

Mitch Wishnowsky, P, San Francisco 49ers
Wishnowsky punted the ball six times for 288 yards. Two punts were touchbacks, two landed inside the 20-yard line and his longest kick was 54 yards in the 49ers 24-15 win over the Denver Broncos. He also had a fantastic hard-hitting tackle on a kickoff that created a buzz around the NFL.
Next Up: at Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday at 6 p.m.

Assert your authority early @mitchwish. Nice form 💪 pic.twitter.com/aoYe2entsT

— Tom Hackett (@TomCantHackett) August 20, 2019

Marquise Blair, S, Seattle Seahawks
Blair played 16 defensive snaps and 10 on special teams, but didn’t record any statistics in the Seahawks’ 25-19 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Next Up: at Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday at 8 p.m. on NFL Network.

Cody Barton, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Barton started at middle linebacker and recorded 4 tackles in the Seahawks’ 25-19 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Next Up: at Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday at 8 p.m. on NFL Network.

Matt Gay, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers were trailing 14-13 with 10 seconds left in the game when Gay nailed a 48-yard field goal to give the Buccaneers a 16-14 win over the Miami Dolphins. Gay also hit a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter and connected on an extra point and didn’t miss a field goal or PAT.
Next Up: vs. Cleveland Browns, Friday at 5:30 on NFL Network.

"Our special teams coach has been hounding me to treat every single kick the same. @BruceArians has given us so many situations in practice… so I feel like I've done it before."

➡️: @MGtweetymonster on game-winning FG pic.twitter.com/S0SGkpqadv

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 19, 2019

Salesi Uhatafe, OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The former Ute played 23 offensive snaps at the guard position on the offensive line in the Buccaneers’ 16-14 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Next Up: vs. Cleveland Browns, Friday at 5:30 on NFL Network.

Tony Bergstrom, OL, Washington Redskins
Bergstrom played 57 percent of the offensive snaps as a guard on the offensive line in the Redskins’ 23-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
Next Up: at Atlanta Falcons, Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

 

Former Cougars

Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks top pass rusher had a set back on his road back to playing. The former top-five pick injured his groin in practice.  Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said it isn’t major and that they still expect him back for week one of the regular season.
Next Up: at Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday at 8 p.m. on NFL Network

Pete Carroll gave updates on several injured Seahawks Friday, including Ziggy Ansah, L.J. Collier, Mike Iupati, Phil Haynes, Bo Scarbrough, Shaquem Griffin, and Jordan Simmonshttps://t.co/PfBKXC8Oei

— 710 ESPN Seattle (@710ESPNSeattle) August 16, 2019

Michael Davis, DB, Los Angeles Chargers
Davis earned the start at left cornerback for L.A. and is positioning himself to be the starter in the regular season as well.  In the loss to the Saints on Sunday, Davis played 14 snaps which made up 22-percent of the Chargers defensive snaps.
Next Up: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Saturday at 8 p.m. on NFL Network

John Denney, LS, Miami Dolphins
Another game, another start for John Denney as the Dolphins starting long snapper.
Next Up: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday at 6 p.m.

Taysom Hill, QB, New Orleans Saints
Former BYU QB Taysom Hill had social media abuzz for leading the Saints to a second-half comeback victory over the L.A. Chargers.  Hill led the Saints in passing and rushing yards.  The question now, will Taysom be the starting QB over Teddy Bridgewater in the Saints third preseason game this Saturday?
Next Up: at New York Jets, Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Bronson Kaufusi, DL, New York Jets
For the second consecutive week, Kaufusi was a starting defensive lineman for the Jets and in this past Thursday’s game, he made a case that the Jets would be foolish to not have him on their 53-man roster. In the Jets win, Kaufusi forced a fumble, had a sack, a tackle for loss, three tackles, two pass deflections, and one quarterback hurry.
Next Up: vs. New Orleans Saints, Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Jets DL Bronson Kaufusi, who played much of the game, was solid last night. Sack, forced fumble, 2 pass deflections, 3 combined tackles. He’s done a nice job this summer.

— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) August 16, 2019

Corbin Kaufusi, DE, New Orleans Saints
The younger brother to Bronson is working to find a spot on the Saints 53-man roster. Kaufusi played nine snaps, all in the second half, and had one tackle and a pass deflection in the Saints win over the Chargers.
Next Up: at New York Jets, Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Harvey Langi, LB, New York Jets
Langi earned a second straight DNP for the Jets.  The good news for Langi is that he is returning to practice this week.  So we might be seeing him in a preseason game soon as he looks to earn a spot in the Jets organization.
Next Up: vs. New Orleans Saints, Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Daniel Sorensen, FS, Kansas City Chiefs
“Dirty Dan” was starting once again at free safety for the Chiefs.  In the loss to the Steelers, Sorensen recorded two tackles.  Sorensen has been a lock with the Chiefs first-team defense alongside the “Honey Badger” Tyrann Mathieu at strong safety.
Next Up: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Saturday at 6 p.m.

Sione Takitaki, ILB, Cleveland Browns
The Browns rookie third-round draft pick suffered an undisclosed injury in practice five days ago forcing him to not play in the Browns 21-18 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Next Up: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Kyle Van Noy, OLB, New England Patriots
Van Noy did not play again for the Pats in their second preseason game. The star Patriots linebacker is being kept out for precautionary reasons.
Next Up: vs. Carolina Panthers, Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Fred Warner, ILB, San Francisco 49ers
Niners play Monday night against the Denver Broncos in Denver on Monday Night Football.
Next Up: at Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday at 6 p.m.

De’Ondre Wesley, OT, Buffalo Bills
Wesley played in 71-percent of the Bills offensive snaps in Buffalo’s victory over the Carolina Panthers. Wesley suffered an injury late in the third quarter and walked off with trainers. He later returned to action in the fourth quarter.  Wesley is a player that’s on the fringe whether or not he will make it to Buffalo’s 53-man roster.
Next Up: at Detroit Lions, Friday at 6 p.m.

Look at the blocks made by De’Ondre Wesley, Wyatt Teller and Ray-Ray McCloud. Phew. #Bills pic.twitter.com/HLWHi8LJ9X

— Ryan Talbot (@RyanTalbotBills) August 17, 2019

Jamaal Williams, RB, Green Bay Packers
The second consecutive week the “Swagdaddy” was sidelined due to injuries.  Rookie running back out of Pitt Darrin Hall led the Packers in rushing with 34 yards in Green Bay’s 26-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Next Up: at Oakland Raiders, Thursday at 6 p.m.

Former Aggies

Maurice Alexander, S, Buffalo Bills
The former Aggie had two tackles as the Bills beat the Carolina Panthers 27-14.
Next Up: at Detroit Lions, Friday at 6 p.m. on CBS.

Dax Raymond, TE, Chicago Bears
Raymond played 26 offensive snaps and 10 on special teams, but didn’t record any statistics in the Bears’ 32-13 loss to the New York Giants.
Next Up: at Indianapolis Colts, Saturday at 5 p.m.

Patrick Scales, LS, Chicago Bears
Scales played six special teams snaps as the Bears lost to the New York Giants 32-13.
Next Up: at Indianapolis Colts, Saturday at 5 p.m.

Nick Vigil, LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Vigil played 10 snaps on defense and 2 special teams as the Bengals beat the Washington Redskins 23-13.
Next Up: vs. New York Giants, Thursday at 5 p.m.

Kyler Fackrell, LB, Green Bay Packers
Fackrell had one tackle for loss in the Packers’ 26-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Next Up: at Oakland Raiders (in Winnipeg), Thursday at 6 p.m.

Devantae Mays, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Mays had two carries for minus-one yard, while also getting two receptions for 15 yards in the Jaguars 24-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Next Up: at Miami Dolphins, Thursday at 6 p.m. on FOX.

Darwin Thompson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Thompson recorded 4 carries for 30 yards as the Chiefs lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-7.
Next Up: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Saturday at 6 p.m.

JoJo Natson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Natson had two catches for 12 yards and one touchdown, while running the ball once for nine yards and had two punt returns for nine yards in the Rams’ 14-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Next Up: vs. Denver Broncos, Saturday at 7 p.m.

Bortles. Natson. Six. #TouchdownTuesday pic.twitter.com/koFL8uPhhW

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 20, 2019

Jalen Greene, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Greene had four catches for 43 yards in the Rams’ 14-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Next Up: vs. Denver Broncos, Saturday at 7 p.m.

Jalen Davis, CB, Miami Dolphins
Davis finished with two tackles as the Dolphins lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-14.
Next Up: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday at 6 p.m. on FOX.

Nevin Lawson, CB, Oakland Raiders
Lawson recorded two tackles on defense and one on special teams as the Raiders beat the Arizona Cardinals 33-26.
Next Up: vs. Green Bay Packers (in Winnipeg), Thursday at 6 p.m.

Dallin Leavitt, S, Oakland Raiders
Leavitt recorded one tackle and two pass deflections on defense and had two more tackles on special teams in the Raiders’ 33-26 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Next Up: vs. Green Bay Packers (in Winnipeg), Thursday at 6 p.m.

Donald Penn, OL, Washington Redskins
Penn played 14 snaps on the offensive line as the Redskins lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 23-13.
Next Up: at Atlanta Falcons, Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

 

Former Wildcats

Taron Johnson, CB, Buffalo Bills
Johnson recorded one tackle in the Bills’ 27-14 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Next Up: at Detroit Lions, Friday at 6 p.m. on CBS.

Iosua Opeta, OL, Philadelphia Eagles
Opeta played 37 snaps and 47 percent of the offensive snaps in the Eagles’ 24-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also played one defensive snap and 3 plays on special teams.
Next Up: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

 

Former Thunderbirds

Josh Thornton, CB, Carolina Panthers
Thornton had four tackles, two solo and two assisted in the Panthers’ 27-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Next Up: at New England Patriots, Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Miles Killebrew, S, Detroit Lions
Killebrew tied for the most tackles for the Lions with five, including one tackle-for-loss as they lost to the Houston Texans 30-23.
Next Up: vs. Buffalo Bills, Friday at 6 p.m. on CBS.

Brock Miller, P, Los Angeles Rams
Miller punted the ball six times for 293 total yards. His longest punt was 58 yards and two of his six punts landed inside the 20-yard line and none of them were touchbacks.
Next Up: vs. Denver Broncos, Saturday at 7 p.m.

James Cowser, DE, Oakland Raiders
Cowser finished with two tackles and a hit on the quarterback in the Raiders’ 33-26 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Next Up: vs. Green Bay Packers (in Winnipeg), Thursday at 6 p.m.

LeShaun Sims, CB, Tennessee Titans
Sims picked up two tackles in the Titans 22-17 loss to the New England Patriots.
Next Up: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday at 6 p.m. on KSL 5 TV.

 

Former High School Stars

Xavier Su’a-Filo, OL, Dallas Cowboys
The Timpview High School product started at right guard and played 30 snaps on offense in the Cowboys’ 14-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Next Up: vs. Houston Texans, Saturday at 5 p.m. on NFL Network.

Marcus Kemp, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
The Layton High School product had one catch for 27 yards in the Chiefs’ 17-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL and MCL.
Next Up: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Saturday at 6 p.m.

Porter Gustin, LB, New Orleans Saints
The Salem Hills High School star had four tackles, including one for a loss as the Saints beat the Los Angeles Chargers 19-17.
Next Up: at New York Jets, Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Luke Falk, QB, New York Jets
Logan High School star went 4-for-4 passing for 41 yards and 1 touchdown, connecting with wide receiver Deontay Burnett on a 9-yard score in the fourth quarter to give the Jets the lead. New York beat the Atlanta Falcons 22-10.
Next Up: vs. New Orleans Saints, Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

John Ursua, WR, Seattle Seahawks
The Cedar High School product hauled in one catch for 25 yards and ran the ball once for 11 yards in the Seahawks’ 25-19 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Next Up: at Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday at 8 p.m. on NFL Network.