Here’s the Week 12 summary of former BYU Cougars in the NFL. Power Rankings reflect this season's overall performance.
No. 1 - Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Stats: 6 tackles
After starting the season on fire and the likely frontrunner for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award, Fred Warner has been relatively quiet for the last couple of weeks. His six tackles were fine but he didn’t make any real “impact plays” as the 49ers suffered another bad loss in an overall disappointing season.
No. 2 - Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Stats: 9 receptions, 117 yards
The Rams were quite literally run over by Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, but Puka once again showed out. He was targeted early and often and led Los Angeles with nine receptions for 117 yards. It was his third 100-plus yard receiving effort in six games this season as the second-year receiver continues to build on his historic rookie campaign.
Some praise to be thrown around here:
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) November 25, 2024
- Matthew Stafford: That was an absurd throw.
- Puka Nacua: What a diving catch on the sideline.
What a connection. pic.twitter.com/j7ZjRLgd8A
No. 3 - Taysom Hill, TE/HB, New Orleans Saints
Stats: Bye week
Did Taysom need a rest the week after he smashed NFL records in his legendary Week 11 performance? No, of course not. Taysom didn’t need a break from NFL defenses. NFL defenses needed a break from Taysom Hill.
No. 4 - Kyle Van Noy, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Stats: 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss
KVN was featured on Monday Night Football and delivered a huge fourth quarter sack, the eighth of his impressive season. Additionally, Van Noy forced two holding penalties that don't show up in the box score. Van Noy is only getting better with age. Last year he set a new career high with nine sacks, and he's only one away from matching last year's output and just two away from a double-digit sacks season. KVN is balling out!
No. 5 - Ryan Rehkow, P, Cincinnati Bengals
Stats: Bye week
Rehkow’s awesome rookie season took a one-week pause with the Bengals on a bye. On the season he ranks seventh in net yards per punt and ninth in average yards per punt.
No. 6 - Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Stats: Bye week
The bye week comes at a good time for the underutilized running back as Allgeier was a little banged up last week and only touched the ball once. Hopefully he can get his body right during the off week and the Falcons coaching staff can get their minds right and feature Tyler more often going forward.
No. 7 - Brady Christensen, OL, Carolina Panthers
Stats: 8 offensive snaps, 5 special teams snaps
Ugh. What the Panthers are doing with Brady Christensen is so, so frustrating. The versatile lineman played well in a couple of starts at center after Austin Corbett was lost for the year to injury. Carolina’s left tackle then went down and Brady moved from center to left tackle for a few games.
Now the Panthers left tackle is healthy again and instead of moving Christensen back to center - where he thrived - they’ve moved him back to the bench and are starting his replacement at center. Brady saw several snaps in jumbo packages in a tight loss to the Chiefs, and at this point I can’t wait for him to hit free agency after this season ends and get the heck out of Carolina for greener pastures elsewhere.
No. 8 - Chris Brooks, RB, Green Bay Packers
Stats: 4 rushes, 11 yards; 1 reception, 15 yards; 25 offensive snaps
The quietest success story from former BYU players this season is the increased role Chris Brooks continues to play for a solid Packers squad. Sure, most of his touches came in garbage time, but he continues to be featured in a couple of series every game. Over the Packers last four games he has 10 carries for 40 yards and six receptions for 56 yards.
No. 9 - Khyiris Tonga, DT, Arizona Cardinals
Stats: 1 tackle; 15 defensive snaps, 1 special teams snap
The massive defensive lineman continues to contribute as a key rotational player for the 6-5 Cardinals. He has 16 tackles in 10 games this season.
No. 10 - Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints
Stats: Bye week
Jamaal has missed three consecutive games due to a groin injury going into the bye, so hopefully he’s healthy in Week 13.
No. 11 - Sione Takitaki, LB, New England Patriots
Stats: 1 tackle; 24 defensive snaps, 18 special teams snaps
Great news! Sione Takitaki has worked his way into a starting role with the New England Patriots. He had to briefly leave the field for an injury that cost him a couple of snaps, but he was able to return and finish the game. Takitaki’s injury to begin the season is completely behind him and he could have a strong close to the season.
No. 12 - Michael Davis, CB, Washington Commanders
Stats: 2 tackles, 1 pass defended, 1 blocked kick return; 29 defensive snaps
Davis had perhaps his best game of a frustratingly slow season with a couple of tackles, a pass defended, and recovering a blocked kick 34 yards to set up a Commanders field goal. On the game’s first possession Davis recorded a third down stop with his tackle that set up the blocked field goal. His role on the defense has increased in recent weeks, which is a good sign for the veteran cornerback.
BYU product Michael Davis just returned this blocked kick 34 yards for the Commanders.
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) November 24, 2024
Hail to the Coug-Manders!pic.twitter.com/p0kV5xoGgq
No. 13 - Zayne Anderson, S, Green Bay Packers
Stats: No stats; 6 defensive snaps, 17 special teams snaps
For the second time this season - and just the second time in his career - Zayne Anderson played defensive snaps in addition to his regular special teams role. While he didn’t record any stats, it’s encouraging to see Zayne get some run with the defense.
No. 14 - Kingsley Suamataia, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Stats: 6 special teams snaps
Kingsley continues to get a handful of snaps on special teams as his rookie season continues to progress much slower than BYU fans had anticipated.
No. 15 - Blake Freeland, OT, Indianapolis Colts
Stats: 2 special teams snaps
The second-year tackle once again saw limited special teams action as he tries to carve out a more prominent role on the Colts offensive line.
Has Not Played:
Zach Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos (Inactive)
On Practice Squads:
Jaren Hall, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Dax Milne, WR, Carolina Panthers
Kedon Slovis, QB, Houston Texans
Max Tooley, LB, Minnesota Vikings