Locals in the NFL playoffs: Here are the 34 players from Utah in the postseason

AROUND THE SHIELD — The Detroit Lions are the NFC's No. 1 seed for the 2025 NFL playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and a former Utah prep star is a big reason why.

Literally, in the case of 6-foot-5, 335-pound offensive lineman Penei Sewell, the former Desert Hills High standout who started every game at right tackle for the fourth straight year in Detroit.

The Lions (15-2) clinched an NFC North title for the second consecutive year with a 31-9 victory over Minnesota late Sunday night, but the No. 1 seed in the NFC means home-field advantage through the playoffs.

Running behind Sewell and the hogs up front, Jahmyr Gibbs broke Barry Sanders and former BYU tailback Jamaal Williams' co-franchise record of 17 touchdowns on the year, running for three of his four scores Sunday night to get to 20 on the season.

In four seasons in the NFL, the 24-year-old Sewell has established himself as one of the league's best tackles. He was recently named to the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive year, a year when he wasn't credited with allowing a sack — and only gave up five quarterback hits in over 1,000 snaps and just over 500 pass-protection reps.

But he's also been involved with a number of offensive specials. Who can forget the Thanksgiving Day stiff-arm against the Bears when Sewell attempted double-reverse pass that spawned meme after meme, or the much-less viral fake reverse that Detroit pulled against San Francisco more recently?

Sewell is one of three Lions tackles named to three Pro Bowl rosters, joining Lou Creekmur (1950-59) and Lomas Brown (1985-2002).

In all, 34 players who played high school or college football in Utah are on a roster in 2025, tied for the most since the 2020 season (2021 playoffs). That's up from 27 players on postseason rosters a year ago.

Here's a look at each one, along with the full schedule for wild-card weekend. Each player is on the active roster unless otherwise noted.

Saturday, Jan. 11

AFC Wild Card

Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans, 2:30 p.m. MST (CBS)

Chargers (11-6)

• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame)
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Placed on injured reserve Nov. 6 (elbow)

Texans (10-7)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford)
• Kedon Slovis, QB, BYU: Signed to practice squad Aug. 29

AFC Wild Card

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 6 p.m. MST (Prime Video)

Steelers (10-7)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State)
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah
• Eric Rowe, S, Utah: Signed to practice squad Nov. 19

Ravens (12-5)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah

Sunday, Jan. 12

AFC Wild Card

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills, 11 a.m. MST (CBS)

Broncos (10-7)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon
• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah
• Thomas Yassmin, TE, Utah: Signed to practice squad Aug. 28

Bills (13-4)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State

NFC Wild Card

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles, 2:30 p.m. MST (FOX)

Packers (11-6)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU

Eagles (14-3)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Injured reserve

NFC Wild Card

Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6 p.m. MST (NBC)

Commanders (12-5)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State
• Michael Davis, CB, BYU

Buccaneers (10-7)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Placed on reserve/injured Aug.31 (knee)

Monday, Jan. 13

NFC Wild Card

Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams, 6 p.m. MST (ESPN/ABC)

Vikings (14-3)

• Taki Taimani, DL, East (via Oregon): Placed on injured reserve (ankle) Nov. 3
• Max Tooley, LB, BYU/Bountiful: Signed practice squad Sept. 19

Rams (10-7)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem

AFC No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) — Bye

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem
• Apu Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Signed to practice squad Dec. 13

NFC No. 1 Detroit Lions (15-2) — Bye

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon)
• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State

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