The Deseret News is tracking Utah ties involved in NFL roster moves ahead of the start of the 2024 season. Check back for further updates — NFL teams must trim their active rosters to 53 players prior to a 2 p.m. MDT deadline on Aug. 27.
Updated numbers for Utah ties on NFL active rosters
Designated by the most recent Utah school they played for:
- University of Utah: 19 (3 on injured reserve or PUP list).
- BYU: 16 (1 on PUP list).
- Utah State: 4.
- Southern Utah: 3.
- Weber State: 2 (1 on injured reserve).
- Other Utah high school ties: 10.
Aug. 27
A look at the day’s moves involving Utah ties, according to reports and team announcements:
BYU players
- Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB, BYU ➡️ Waived by Tennessee Titans.
- Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU ➡️ Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform list by New England Patriots.
- Dax Milne, WR, BYU and Bingham High ➡️ Waived by Las Vegas Raiders.
- Clark Barrington, OL, BYU ➡️ Waived by Las Vegas Raiders.
- Isaac Rex, TE, BYU ➡️ Waived by Los Angeles Chargers.
- Samson Nacua, WR, BYU, Utah and Timpview High ➡️ Waived by New Orleans Saints.
- Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU ➡️ Waived by Carolina Panthers.
- Chris Brooks, RB, BYU ➡️ Waived by Miami Dolphins with an injury designation.
- Max Tooley, LB, BYU and Bountiful High ➡️ Waived by Houston Texans.
Utah players
- Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah ➡️ Waived by Washington Commanders.
- Marquise Blair, S, Utah ➡️ Released by Seattle Seahawks.
- Javelin Guidry, CB, Utah ➡️ Released by Detroit Lions.
- Jackson Barton, OT, Utah and Brighton High ➡️ Released by Arizona Cardinals.
- Keaton Bills, OG, Utah and Corner Canyon High ➡️ Waived by Buffalo Bills.
- Leki Fotu, DT, Utah and Herriman High ➡️ Placed on injured reserve by New York Jets.
- Tim Patrick, WR, Utah ➡️ Released by Denver Broncos. Note: Several reports indicate Patrick will sign with Detroit to its practice squad, with the intent to join the active roster later on.
- Cole Fotheringham, TE, Utah ➡️ Waived by Las Vegas Raiders.
- Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah and Desert Hills High ➡️ Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform list by New Orleans Saints.
- Thomas Yassmin, TE, Utah ➡️ Waived by Denver Broncos.
Utah State players
- Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State and Fremont High ➡️ Released by Dallas Cowboys.
- Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State ➡️ Released by Cincinnati Bengals.
- Andrew Peasley, QB, Utah State ➡️ Waived by New York Jets.
Weber State players
- Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State ➡️ Released by Minnesota Vikings.
- Winston Reid, LB, Weber State and Copper Hills High ➡️ Waived by Cleveland Browns.
Southern Utah players
- Isaiah Wooden, WR, Southern Utah ➡️ Waived by Los Angeles Chargers.
Other Utah high school ties
- Cameron Latu, TE, Olympus High ➡️ Waived by San Francisco 49ers.
- Siaki Ika, DT, East High ➡️ Waived by Cleveland Browns.
Aug. 26
A look at the day’s moves involving Utah ties, as announced by the respective teams:
- Kaleb Hayes, CB, BYU ➡️ Waived by Denver Broncos.
- Miles Battle, CB, Utah ➡️ Waived by Kansas City Chiefs.
- Aidan Robbins, RB, BYU ➡️ Waived by Cleveland Browns.
Aug. 25
A look at the day’s moves involving Utah ties, as announced by the respective teams:
- Kedon Slovis, QB, BYU ➡️ Waived by Indianapolis Colts.
- Clayton Isbell, S, Utah ➡️ Waived by New York Giants.
- Bradlee Anae, DE, Utah ➡️ Released by Atlanta Falcons.
- Terrell Burgess, S, Utah ➡️ Placed on injured reserve by Buffalo Bills.
The Colts released Slovis on Sunday, according to a team press release. The quarterback played for BYU last season after starting his career at USC and spending one season with Pittsburgh.
Aug. 22
- Isaac Rex, TE, BYU ➡️ Signed by Los Angeles Chargers.
- Bryan Thompson, WR, Utah ➡️ Reached an injury settlement and was waived by Buffalo Bills.
Rex is getting his second chance with an NFL team after going undrafted in April.
That comes with the Chargers, who signed him Thursday, five days before NFL final cut downs will happen.
Rex originally signed with the Detroit Lions after April’s NFL draft but was released over the summer.
Aug. 20
- Clayton Isbell, S, Utah ➡️ Signed by New York Giants.
Aug. 19
- Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU ➡️ Signed by Carolina Panthers.
Aug. 17
- Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State ➡️ Reached an injury settlement and was waived by Carolina Panthers.
Aug. 14
- Javelin Guidry, CB, Utah ➡️ Signed by Detroit Lions.
- Clayton Isbell, S, Utah ➡️ Waived by Carolina Panthers.
- Bryan Thompson, WR, Utah ➡️ Placed on injured reserve by Buffalo Bills.
Guidry missed last season due to injury, but he’s back on an NFL roster with the Detroit Lions signing him to their 90-man roster.
Guidry bounced around between five different NFL teams over the past two years, before landing on injured reserve with the New York Jets last season.
He last played during the regular season in 2022, playing four games for the Las Vegas Raiders, and played in 28 games — with five starts — over his first two years in the league with the Jets in 2020 and 2021.
Aug. 13
- Bryan Thompson, WR, Utah ➡️ Waived by Buffalo Bills with an injury designation.
- Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU ➡️ Waived by Los Angeles Chargers.
Aug. 12
- Kaleb Hayes, DB, BYU ➡️ Claimed by Denver Broncos off waivers.
- Isaiah Wooden, WR, Southern Utah ➡️ Signed by Los Angeles Chargers.
- Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State ➡️ Placed on injured reserve by Carolina Panthers.
It only took a day for Hayes to land on another NFL team.
One day after he was waived by the New York Giants, the Denver Broncos claimed Hayes off waivers on Monday.
This is Hayes’ third NFL team since joining the league. He spent the 2023 season on the Giants’ practice squad.
With Hayes’ addition, Denver now has eight Utah ties on its roster, including six former Utes and another former Cougar, quarterback Zach Wilson.
Aug. 11
- Kaleb Hayes, DB, BYU ➡️ Waived by New York Giants.
- Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State ➡️ Waived by Carolina Panthers with an injury designation.
Hayes is on the NFL open market once again.
The former BYU defensive back was waived three days after the New York Giants’ preseason opener. He was a training camp cut last year by the Jacksonville Jaguars and spent the 2023 season on New York’s practice squad.
Hayes played 17 defensive snaps and did not record a statistic in the Giants’ preseason opening win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
Thompkins, meanwhile, lasted just over two weeks in Carolina after being waived with an injury designation, reportedly due to a hamstring injury.
Thompkins had spent the past two seasons in Tampa Bay.
Aug. 6
- Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State and Fremont High ➡️ Signed by Dallas Cowboys.
- Byron Vaughns, LB, Utah State ➡️ Waived by Dallas Cowboys.
- Dax Milne, WR, BYU and Bingham High ➡️ Signed by Las Vegas Raiders.
Milne spent almost a week without a team before the Raiders signed the former Cougar and Miner.
Milne, a 2021 seventh-round draft pick, had spent his previous three-plus seasons with Washington before the Commanders waived him on July 31. Milne missed the 2023 season while on injured reserve.
In the two years before that, he played in 28 games over two seasons for Washington and had 15 receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown. Milne also served as a returner for the Commanders, both on punts and kickoffs.
Vigil, meanwhile, reunites with Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who was his head coach with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021.
This is Vigil’s fifth team in as many seasons, and that includes two stints with the Vikings.
Aug. 2
- Samson Nacua, WR, BYU, Utah and Timpview High ➡️ Signed by New Orleans Saints.
Two summers ago, Nacua had an opportunity to make an NFL roster as an undrafted rookie. After that didn’t work out, he spent time in other football leagues, but now, the former BYU and Utah wide receiver who prepped at Timpview High is getting another shot at the NFL.
That’s because the New Orleans Saints signed Nacua on Friday.
Nacua, the older brother of Los Angeles Rams record-setting wide receiver Puka Nacua, signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent in 2022 and competed in training camp — he even caught a touchdown pass in a preseason game — before being released during final cuts.
He played two games for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL in 2023 before landing with the Michigan Panthers during the 2024 UFL season.
Samson Nacua had 11 receptions for 125 yards with the Panthers and played alongside another brother, safety Kai Nacua, in Michigan.
In his short time with the Saints, he’s already leaving an impression in New Orleans. Samson Nacua made a one-handed grab during Saturday’s practice session that has been shared on social media.
He’s getting some opportunities with a handful of injuries hampering the Saints’ wide receivers, including a hamstring injury to former Weber State star Rashid Shaheed.
“I don’t know exactly what the outlook is for Samson Nacua, but he’s easy to like. He’s a bigger guy and has already had a few nice moments as a blocker, and he seems adept at using his frame to create leverage and space,” WWL Radio Sports’ Jeff Nowak wrote about him after Saturday’s practice.
“He’s no Puka, but there’s something to like there. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a factor in the preseason and sticks around on the practice squad, particularly with the extra opportunity available with all the injuries right now.”
New Orleans plays at the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 10 in its preseason opener.
Other Utah ties involved in transactions during training camp
Aug. 3
- Clayton Isbell, S, Utah ➡️ Re-signed by Carolina Panthers.
Aug. 2
- Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State and Stansbury High ➡️ Placed on injured reserve by Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
July 31
- Terrell Burgess, S, Utah ➡️ Signed by Buffalo Bills.
- Dax Milne, WR, BYU and Bingham High ➡️ Waived by Washington Commanders.
July 30
- Isaiah Wooden, WR, Southern Utah ➡️ Waived by Atlanta Falcons.
July 26
- Marquise Blair, S, Utah ➡️ Signed by Seattle Seahawks.
- Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU ➡️ Signed by Cincinnati Bengals.
- Clayton Isbell, S, Utah ➡️ Waived by Carolina Panthers.
July 25
- Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State ➡️ Signed by Carolina Panthers.