What Ty’Son Williams showed in his first NFL start (plus Week 1 Utah ties roundup)

Ty’Son Williams checked off a few firsts in his NFL career Monday night: first start (in his first game no less), first carry and first touchdown, just to name a few. 

The former BYU running back found himself as the lead back to start the night when Baltimore faced Las Vegas on Monday night. This came after the Ravens were hit by season-ending injuries in recent days to three other running backs, including J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, the team’s two leading running backs a year ago. 

Williams, a practice squad player a year ago, acquitted himself well Monday night in the Ravens’ 33-27 loss to Las Vegas.

A few observations of how Williams performed: 

• Williams played a significant role in the offense, playing 35 snaps. That was more than Latavius Murray, the veteran running back the Ravens signed just days earlier. Murray played 21 snaps.
• Williams made the most of his touches. He had nine carries — lowest among the team’s three main ball carriers, Murray (10) and quarterback Lamar Jackson (12) — and rushed for 65 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Williams also had three receptions for 29 yards. 
• A quarter of Williams’ touches went for double-digit yards. That included a 21-yard catch on the drive where he later scored a touchdown, his 35-yard TD run and a 16-yard carry.
• Speaking of his 35-yard touchdown run, that showed the Ravens’ trust in his ability to make a play. Baltimore faced a fourth-and-1 at the Las Vegas 35 on the Ravens’ second possession, and instead of kicking a field goal, Baltimore went for it. Williams burst through the middle for the first down, avoided a pair of tackle attempts, then outraced a defender for the score. That burst had social media buzzing.

• In the second half, Murray took the bulk of the carries — Williams had just two carries after the break. That makes sense, considering Murray has 63 career starts to his name and played well as the complementary back to New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara the past two seasons.
• Even if Murray takes over the lead back role from Williams — which is likely where this is heading, considering Murray’s overwhelming experience advantage — Williams’ ability to contribute both in the run and the pass game should serve him well, and make him a valuable asset throughout the year.
• On his final play of the game, Williams showed one area he’s still got some work to do. With Baltimore facing a third-and-7 from its own 33 with less than five minutes in overtime, Williams failed to adequately pick up the blitz from defensive end Carl Nassib — Williams got a hit on him but it didn’t do much to stop Nassib’s momentum — and Nassib strip-sacked Jackson. The Raiders recovered, then scored the game-winner two plays later.

For a player thrust into a prominent role in his first NFL action, though, Williams was impressive much of the night — he finished with 94 total yards — and looked like someone who could be a solid playmaker for the Ravens this season. 

How Utah ties performed during Week 1

Several Utah ties made a significant impact during Week 1 of the NFL season. Here’s a look at how local ties performed:

Buccaneers 31, Cowboys 29

Tampa Bay

• No locals on active roster.

Dallas

• Bradlee Anae, DE, Utah: 28 snaps (10 defense, 18 on special teams).
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton High: 9 snaps (all on special teams).
• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham High: Started at tight end; 6 receptions, 45 yards; 65 snaps (57 on offense, 8 on special teams).

Eagles 32, Falcons 6

Philadelphia

• No locals on active roster.

Atlanta

• No locals on roster. 

Steelers 23, Bills 16

Pittsburgh

• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Blocked a fourth-quarter punt that led to a Steelers touchdown on the play and gave Pittsburgh a 20-10 lead; 19 snaps (all on special teams).

Buffalo

• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Started at cornerback; team-high 7 tackles (all solo), 2 breakups; 58 snaps (all on defense).
• Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah, Snow College and Bingham High: Not active for game with calf injury.
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Not active for game.

Panthers 19, Jets 14

Carolina

• Brady Christensen, OT, BYU and Bountiful High: 4 snaps (all on special teams).

New York

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU and Corner Canyon High: Started at quarterback; completed 20 of 37 passes for 258 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception; sacked 6 times; 65 snaps (all on offense).

• Javelin Guidry, CB, Utah: 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss; 32 snaps (22 on defense, 10 on special teams).

Bengals 27, Vikings 24

Cincinnati

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: 11 snaps (2 on defense, 9 on special teams).
• Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, Timpview High: Started at right guard; 74 snaps (69 on offense, 5 on special teams).

Minnesota

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State and Fremont High: Started at linebacker; 10 tackles (8 solo), 1 sack for 12 yards, 2 tackles for loss, 1 QB hurry; 76 snaps (69 on defense, 7 on special teams). 

49ers 41, Lions 33

San Francisco

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Started at linebacker; team-high 11 tackles (8 solo); recovered Lions’ onside kick attempt; 80 snaps (77 on defense, 3 on special teams). 
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: 2 punts with 38.0-yard average, both inside 20; 12 snaps (all on special teams).

Detroit

• John Penisini, DT, Utah, Snow College and West Jordan High: 18 snaps (17 on defense, 1 on special teams).
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills High: Started at left tackle; 96 snaps (92 on offense, 4 on special teams).
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Started at running back; 9 carries, 54 yards, 1 touchdown (in fourth quarter), 8 receptions, 56 yards; 32 snaps (all on offense).

Texans 37, Jaguars 21

Houston

• No locals on roster.

Jacksonville

• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham High: Not active for game. 

Seahawks 28, Colts 16

Seattle

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah and Brighton High: 2 tackles (1 solo); 26 snaps (8 on defense, 18 on special teams).
• Marquise Blair, S, Utah: 2 tackles (1 solo); 35 snaps (28 on defense, 7 on special teams).
• Bryan Mone, DT, Highland High: 5 tackles (3 solo), 1 QB hurry; 37 snaps (35 on defense, 2 on special teams).
• Bobby Wagner, MLB, Utah State: Started at middle linebacker; team-high 13 tackles (6 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection; 79 snaps (76 on defense, 3 on special teams).

Indianapolis

• Julian Blackmon, FS, Utah and Layton High: Started at free safety; 5 tackles (3 solo), 1 tackle for loss; 
• Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU: Not active for game. Indianapolis waived him Tuesday. 

Cardinals 38, Titans 13

Arizona

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah and Herriman High: 1 pass deflection; 21 snaps (1 on offense, 17 on defense, 3 on special teams).
• Kylie Fitts, OLB, Utah: 1 solo tackle; 30 snaps (10 on defense, 20 on special teams).

Tennessee 

• No locals on roster. 

Chargers 20, Football Team 16

Los Angeles

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Started at cornerback; 4 solo tackles, 1 forced fumble; 58 snaps (53 on defense, 5 on special teams).
• Kyler Fackrell, LB, Utah State: 1 tackle; 33 snaps (27 on defense, 6 on special teams).
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem High: 2 tackles (1 solo); 42 snaps (23 on defense, 19 on special teams).

Washington

• Dax Milne, WR, BYU and Bingham High: 2 snaps (all on offense).
• Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State and Jordan High: Did not play.

Chiefs 33, Browns 29

Kansas City

• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU and Stansbury High: 7 snaps (all on special teams).
• Marcus Kemp, WR, Layton High: 1 solo tackle for loss; his tackle set up the winning touchdown, as Kemp tackled the Cleveland punter after he fumbled a snap and was tackled by Kemp short of a first down; 24 snaps (5 on offense, 19 on special teams).
• Daniel Sorensen, S, BYU: Started at safety; 4 tackles (2 solo), 1 QB hurry; Sorensen’s quarterback hurry led to an interception in the final two minutes of the game; 61 snaps (59 on offense, 2 on special teams).

Cleveland

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: 1 tackle; 36 snaps (22 on defense, 14 on special teams).

Dolphins 17, Patriots 16

Miami

• Eric Rowe, S, Utah: Started at safety; 9 tackles (6 solo), 1 forced fumble; 65 snaps (all on defense). 

New England

• Harvey Langi, LB, BYU, Utah and Bingham High: 9 snaps (all on special teams).
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: 3 tackles (2 solo), 1 sack for 10 yards, 1 tackle for loss, 1 QB hurry, 1 pass deflection; 36 snaps (35 on defense, 1 on special teams).

Saints 38, Packers 3

New Orleans

• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial High: 1 fumble recovery inside New Orleans 5; 39 snaps (23 on defense, 16 on special teams).
• Chase Hansen, LB, Utah and Lone Peak High: Not active for game.
• Taysom Hill, QB, BYU: 2 carries, 1 yard, completed 1 of 1 passes for 3 yards; 23 snaps (22 on offense, 1 on special teams).
• Marcus Williams, FS, Utah: Started at free safety; 1 solo tackle, 1 pass deflection, 1 interception he returned 53 yards to set up a Saints touchdown; 48 snaps (all on defense).

Green Bay

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Completed 5 of 7 passes for 68 yards, 1 fumble lost; 15 snaps (all on offense).

Broncos 27, Giants 13

Denver

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah, Snow College and Westlake High: Started at left tackle; 71 snaps (66 on offense, 5 on special teams).
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Started at wide receiver; 4 receptions for 39 yards, 1 touchdown that gave Broncos a 10-7 lead; 47 snaps (46 on offense, 1 on special teams).

New York

• Devontae Booker, RB, Utah: 4 carries, 7 yards, 1 reception, 6 yards; 30 snaps (24 on offense, 6 on special teams).  

Rams 34, Bears 14

Los Angeles

• Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: 13 snaps (all on special teams).
• Matt Gay, K, Utah and Orem High: Made field goals of 53 and 22 yards, made 4 of 4 point-after attempts; 13 snaps (all on special teams).
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: 1 solo tackle; 16 snaps (13 on defense, 3 on special teams).

Chicago

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Started at cornerback; 5 tackles (3 solo), 1 pass deflection; 52 snaps (all on defense). 
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State and Weber High: 3 snaps (all on special teams).
• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU and Granger High: 19 snaps (13 on defense, 6 on special teams).

Raiders 33, Ravens 27

Las Vegas

• Andre James, OL, Herriman High: Started at center; 86 snaps (all on offense).
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State and BYU: 1 tackle; 30 snaps (8 on defense, 22 on special teams).

Baltimore

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Did not play.
• Ty’Son Williams, RB, BYU: 9 carries, 65 yards, 1 touchdown from 35 yards on a fourth-and-1, 3 receptions, 29 yards; 35 snaps (all on offense).