BYU players in the NFL Week 5: Kyle Van Noy wins Player of the Month while Fred Warner dominates
By D.A. Sweat
Here’s the Week 5 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: 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
After suffering an ankle injury last week, Warner’s availability for this game was up in the air. But Fred played and was his usual dominant self with 12 tackles. The 49ers suffered a bad loss to the Cardinals, but Warner more than did his part. He remains among the frontrunners for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
No. 2 - Kyle Van Noy, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Stats: 2 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit
First, KVN’s week started off with him being named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month! His six sacks over his last three games had Van Noy producing at an elite level and he ranked second in the NFL in sacks heading into Week 5. KVN’s stats this week weren’t quite up to his recent stellar standards, but he contributed to the Ravens overtime victory.
No. 3 - Ryan Rehkow, P, Cincinnati Bengals
Stats: 5 punts, 50.6 yards per punt, 4 inside 20 yard line, 66-yard long
It was a day of high highs and low lows for the rookie. His 66-yard second quarter punt pinned the Ravens at the 2-yard line and set up a safety on the next play. But then in overtime as the field goal holder Rehkow bobbled the snap on a potential game-winning attempt that was unsuccessful, and the Bengals ended up losing. Rehkow's 55.6 yards per punt leads the NFL by over three yards per attempt and at this point the rookie is on track for a Pro Bowl selection.
No. 4 - Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Stats: 6 rushes, 12 yards; 3 receptions 13 yards, 1 tackle
The Buccaneers bottled up Allgeier in this one as the bulldozing running back had few open lanes to run through. On the season Tyler has put up 178 rushing yards on an impressive 5.4 yards per carry, plus six receptions for 45 yards. At this rate he’s on track for 605 rushing yards over a 17-game season. The frustration remains that he's a 1,000-yard back for almost any other team but he's relegated to limited carries behind Bijan Robinson. Most BYU fans wish the Falcons would trade Allgeier, but that's not going to happen.
No. 5 - Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints
Stats: 2 rushes, 9 yards; 2 kick returns, 47 yards
Even with Taysom Hill not playing due to injury, Jamaal only had two carries on Monday Night Football against the Chiefs, which isn’t promising. After getting 19 carries in his first two games this year, Jamaal has just six carries for 19 yards over his last three contests while Alvin Kamara is being run into the ground. At least Jamaal is being consistently used as a kick returner to get another touch or two each game.
No. 6 - Khyiris Tonga, DT, Arizona Cardinals
Stats: 2 tackles, 19 defensive snaps
Tonga’s two tackles were both run plays on 1st-and-10 and he only allowed gains of just one yard. He now has seven tackles in four games this year. The 19 defensive snaps he played in Week 5 represented 30% of the team’s total, so he’s carving out a nice rotational role in Arizona.
No. 7 - Brady Christensen, OL, Carolina Panthers
Stats: 19 offensive snaps, 3 special teams snaps
Christensen replaced center Austin Corbett (a fellow member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by the way) when Corbett was injured midway through the game. Brady played fairly well other than a shotgun snap that went over Andy Dalton’s head and nearly ended in a safety. Corbett’s injury is season-ending, so Christensen appears to be the Panthers starting center going forward. This development will be a golden opportunity for Brady to prove himself at his new position (he has also started at tackle and guard for the Panthers) as he plays out the last season of his rookie contract and looks to land a second NFL deal after this season.
No. 8 - Michael Davis, CB, Washington Commanders
Stats: 1 tackle, 4 defensive snaps, 16 special teams snaps
The positive note this week is that Davis got a few defensive snaps this week instead of being relegated to just special teams. That said, his first season in Washington isn’t going as expected with just three tackles through five games.
No. 9 - Zayne Anderson, S, Green Bay Packers
Stats: 1 tackle, 16 special teams snaps
Another week, another special teams tackle for Zayne Anderson. The dude is just special on special teams. He now has three special teams tackles in five games this year.
No. 10 - Kingsley Suamataia, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Stats: 4 offensive snaps, 7 special teams snaps
Chiefs starting left tackle Wanya Morris suffered what appeared to be a pretty bad leg injury on Monday Night Football that required the broadcast to cut to commercial, and Kingsley was thrust into action. But Morris quickly recovered and was back in on the Chiefs next possession. Kingsley continues to get a few special teams snaps each week during his up-and-down rookie season.
No. 11 - Chris Brooks, RB, Green Bay Packers
Stats: 8 special teams snaps
Brooks continues to see limited reps on special teams but no role with the offense. He’s currently third on the Packers depth chart at running back, but if starters Josh Jacobs or Emanuel Wilson get banged up (which is an occupational hazard for the position), Brooks is currently the next man up.
Did Not Play:
Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints (Injured)
Blake Freeland, OT, Indianapolis Colts (Inactive)
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams (IR)
Sione Takitaki, LB, New England Patriots (PUP list)
Zach Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos (Inactive)
On Practice Squads:
Kedon Slovis, QB, Houston Texans
Max Tooley, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Jaren Hall, QB, Seattle Seahawks