Locals in the NFL: Utes' Jaylon Johnson had Caleb Williams' back — literally — in Bears win

AROUND THE SHIELD — All eyes in the Chicago Bears' 2024 season opener were on starting quarterback Caleb Williams, but perhaps Williams' eyes should have been on Jaylon Johnson.

At least, during the postgame interview.

Moments after Williams helped rally the Bears from a 17-0 deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans 24-17, the former University of Utah cornerback snuck up on the former USC quarterback during his postgame interview on FOX.

"Defense got your back, No. 18," Johnson said in Williams' ear, to which Williams replied: "Oh yeah."

Williams became the first quarterback drafted No. 1 overall to win his rookie debut since 2002, when the former Southern California signal caller completed 14-of-29 passes for 93 yards and ran for 15 more.

But Williams will likely be buying his defense and special teams a couple of steaks after the win, including Johnson, who had three tackles, two tackles for loss, two passes defended and the game-sealing interception at the Bears' 40-yard line with 1:15 remaining that allowed Williams to kneel in his first victory formation as Chicago starter.

After the game, Williams admitted he and much of the offense "didn't perform the way I wanted to," and that he "missed and misfired" on plenty of passes that he'll want back.

But Johnson — who agreed to a new four-year, $76 million contract in the offseason, per NFL.com — and the defense stayed behind him. Good thing, too, for Bears' fans.

"We just responded," Johnson said, per the team website. "We knew that wasn't like us. We had a few big explosive plays from runs that got away from us, some miscommunication. But, overall, we kept pushing, kept going. We know that we're a dominant defense, and that's what we showed."

Other standout performances include:

• Former BYU standout Ryan Rehkow set a Bengals all-time record with an 80-yard screamer on his second punt midway through the opening quarter of Cincinnati's 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots. The undrafted free-agent punter who initially signed with the Kansas City Chiefs before being waived and making his way to the Queen's City punted four times for 258 yards in his NFL regular-season debut, an average of 64.5 yards per punt that set an NFL single-game record (minimum of four punts).
• At 34 years old, Bobby Wagner is still laying the hit stick. The former Utah State standout and nine-time Pro Bowler posted a team-high 10 tackles, including three tackles for loss, in the Washington Commanders' 37-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Another former Utah hit machine, Kaden Elliss from Judge Memorial, started at linebacker and posted a team-high nine tackles in the Atlanta Falcons' 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Here's a look at how other former Utah high school and college football players performed in Week 1 of the NFL's 2024 regular season.

Monday Night Football

San Francisco 32, New York 19

49ers (0-0)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker posted a team-high seven tackles and forced a fumble in 51 snaps on defense
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted one time for 58 yards and held kick attempts in nine snaps on special teams

Jets (0-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Sunday Night Football

Detroit 26, Los Angeles 20 (OT)

Lions (1-0)

• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Reserve running back also played on special teams
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Started at left tackle and powered a run game to 163 yards, including 91 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime by David Montgomery

Rams (0-1)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver caught four passes for 35 yards and added a 7-yard run before exiting the game with a knee injury

Sunday afternoon

Dallas 33, Cleveland 17

Cowboys (1-0)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Reserve linebacker played 25 snaps on defense and 25 on special teams with one tackle apiece

Browns (0-1)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made two tackles on defense

Tampa Bay 37, Washington 20

Buccaneers (1-0)

• No locals on the active roster

Commanders (0-1)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback also played on special teams
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker had team-high 10 tackles, three tackles for loss on defense

Seattle 26, Denver 20

Seahawks (1-0)

• Marquise Blair, S, Utah: Reserve free safety had two tackles on special teams
• Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah: Inactive for Week 1

Broncos (0-1)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 1
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle before exiting with an ankle injury
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Reserve receiver had team-high eight catches for 39 yards

Los Angeles 22, Las Vegas 10

Chargers (1-0)

• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Reserve wide receiver played mostly on special teams
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Kahuku HS, Notre Dame): Starting safety made four tackles on defense

Raiders (0-1)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Started at center
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Inactive for Week 1 (illness)

Pittsburgh 18, Atlanta 10

Steelers (1-0)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back had 7 yards on two carries, caught two passes for 13 yards
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams and had two penalties

Falcons (0-1)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 21 yards on three carries on offense
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback had one tackle on defense
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker posted team-high nine tackles

Buffalo 34, Arizona 28

Bills (1-0)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Starting receiver caught one pass for 11 yards on offense
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel made one tackle on defense before leaving with a forearm injury
• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Inactive for Week 1

Cardinals (0-1)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive lineman had one tackle on defense

Chicago 24, Tennessee 17

Bears (1-0)

• Jaylon Johnson, DB, Utah: Starting cornerback had three tackles, two tackles for loss, two passes defended and an interception on defense
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Starting left tackle played most snaps with one false start penalty
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Inactive for Week 1

Titans (0-1)

• No locals on the active roster

New England 16, Cincinnati 10

Patriots (1-0)

• No locals on the active roster

Bengals (0-1)

• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Starting running back ran for 44 yards on nine carries, including a 5-yard touchdown; caught two passes for 17 yards; and made a tackle
• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted four times for 258 yards, a 64.5 yards-per-punt average with two touchbacks and a franchise-record 80-yarder on his second try
• Tanner McLachlan, TE, Southern Utah (via Arizona): Inactive for Week 1
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive tackle made four stops and a tackle for loss on defense

Houston 29, Indianapolis 27

Texans (1-0)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught three passes for 67 yards on offense

Colts (0-1)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Inactive for Week 1
• Julian Blackmon, FS, Utah/Layton: Starting safety totaled 13 tackles on defense
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Inactive for Week 1

Miami 20, Jacksonville 17

Dolphins (1-0)

• No locals on the active roster

Jaguars (0-1)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker posted nine tackles and a tackle for loss on defense

New Orleans 47, Carolina 10

Saints (1-0)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Starting tight end ran five times for 35 yards and caught one pass for 1 yard on offense
• Dallin Holker, TE, BYU/Lehi (via Colorado State): Inactive for Week 1
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 38 yards on 11 carries, including a 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter; caught one pass for 13 yards; and returned a kickoff for 32 yards
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting wide receiver caught three passes for 73 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown in the first quarter; returned three punts for 60 yards; and returned one kickoff for 33 yards

Panthers (0-1)

• Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful: Reserve guard rotated on offensive line

Minnesota 28, New York 6

Vikings (1-0)

• Taki Taimani, DL, East (via Oregon): Reserve defensive lineman played mostly on special teams.

Giants (0-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Friday in Brazil

Philadelphia 34, Green Bay 29

Eagles (1-0)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Reserve receiver had one fair-catch punt return and five snaps on offense, three on special teams

Packers (0-1)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 17-of-34 passes for 260 yards, two touchdowns and an interception with one sack taken in 65 snaps before exiting the game late with an MCL injury, per ESPN's Adam Schefter
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety made one tackle in 18 snaps on special teams

Thursday Night Football

Kansas City 27, Baltimore 20

Chiefs (1-0)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Starting left tackle played 54 snaps on offense, five on special teams with one holding call

Ravens (0-1)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting SAM linebacker had one tackle and a quarterback hurry in 20 snaps on defense before exiting the game with a fractured orbital bone, per NFL Network's Steve Wyche
• Marcus Williams, FS, Utah: Starting free safety totaled six tackles and a pass defended in 54 snaps on defense

Related topics