When Taysom Hill took the field at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday, it was the first time since Dec. 1, 2024, that the do-it-all New Orleans star had suited up for the Saints.
In Week 13 last season, he tore his ACL in a game against the Los Angeles Rams, and the former BYU quarterback, who now lines up all over the field for New Orleans, began the 2025 NFL season on the physically unable to perform list.
On Sunday, though, he played as the Saints picked up their first win of the season, beating the New York Giants 26-14.
Hill’s rushing stats in his first game under first-year coach Kellen Moore were unimpressive — he was held to minus-1 rushing yard on six carries — and his lone big highlight of the day was a 19-yard pass to tight end Juwan Johnson in the third quarter that helped lead to a New Orleans field goal and a 19-14 lead.
There will be a transition period as he gets back on the field full-time under a new coaching staff.
Before the game, Hill shared what the journey back to playing meant for him as the fan favorite returned to the field.
“I feel really good. I feel better than what I was expecting. I’m really encouraged with how my knee has handled the load this week,” he told reporters.
He later added: “I trust my knee, my knee feels super stable. I think it comes down to you just, you got to rip the band-aid off. You’re not going to know how it’s going to respond to contact until you start to see contact. And that’s a hard thing to imitate, until you get out and do it. So I don’t know that I need to see or feel anything else on my knee before I get to a game.”
The moment also gave Hill a chance to reflect on his career.
Hill has an extensive injury history, including three season-ending injuries during his time at BYU, though he’s become a fan favorite with the Saints because of his ability to contribute in a variety of ways, from various offensive positions to making plays on special teams.
Still, at age 35, he said there has to be a consideration for life beyond football. He and wife Emily are the parents of two boys.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s a loaded question, you know, and it’s a hard one to appropriately answer in a quick second like this. But I love playing football. Football has given me and my family some incredible experiences and given us incredible opportunities,” he said. “And you realize that football, there’s a shelf life to doing this.
“And (I) had a lot of conversations with the organization this offseason, and with Kellen and (Saints) Mickey (Loomis) and you know, I wasn’t ready to walk away. They still had a vision for me here, and so I told him I was going to do everything I could to make sure I could still help the team win.”
“I would say, from the early stages of my rehab all the way back until after the injury, my mindset was I was going to rehab this as if I was going to play,” Hill said. “At the end of the day I got two little guys, and we want to add to the family, and so make sure that I’m healthy to be a dad to those little guys.”
— Taysom Hill
“I would say, from the early stages of my rehab all the way back until after the injury, my mindset was I was going to rehab this as if I was going to play,” Hill said. “At the end of the day I got two little guys, and we want to add to the family, and so make sure that I’m healthy to be a dad to those little guys.”
— Taysom Hill
Regarding whether Hill ever seriously contemplated retirement this offseason, he praised the Saints organization for working with him through the recovery process and that he never felt forced to make a decision.
His mindset was to return, Hill said, while also weighing family considerations — that he could be healthy enough to be a dad and raise his two sons.
“I would say, from the early stages of my rehab all the way back until after the injury, my mindset was I was going to rehab this as if I was going to play,” Hill said. “At the end of the day I got two little guys, and we want to add to the family, and so make sure that I’m healthy to be a dad to those little guys. So I was always motivated to get back to full health, whether I was playing football or not.”
How Hill fits into the Saints’ plans as the season moves forward is something that continues to be worked on. As he put it, things will evolve as he gets back on the practice field and in games.
“It’s one of those, let’s take it a day at a time. Let’s take it a week at a time and see where this thing evolves. Obviously, I’ve had a number of conversations with Kellen dating all the way back to February, March, when he first got the job and when he was going through this interview process,” Hill said.
“But it’s a hard thing to define. And the reality is, I’ve had three days of practice with this coaching staff, and they’ve had three days of practice with me, you know. So I think everyone’s still learning through this process. I think it’ll be one of those things that just evolved through time.”
While there was uncertainty whether Hill could return in the 2025 season, he shared his gratitude for being able to return to the game.
“I felt all the emotions over the last nine, 10 months, so to be standing here right now and being able to be out at practice with my teammates and stuff is, it’s an emotional thing,” he said. “It’s one that you’re filled with gratitude, and a lot of people that have been really involved with this process, and so you take a step back and think about all those people and the experiences that you had along the way. It’s one that fills me with gratitude.”
Takeaway central
Jacksonville linebacker Devin Lloyd (Utah) continues to shine in the early portion of the 2025 season. On Monday night, that included the former Ute star setting a franchise record, as he returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown in Jacksonville’s 31-28 win over Kansas City.
Lloyd’s interception was his fourth of the season, which leads the NFL. It came one week after he had two picks in a victory over San Francisco.
Cleveland linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (Utah) recovered a fumble early in the fourth quarter of the Browns’ 21-17 loss to Minnesota. It’s his second career fumble recovery — he jumped on the ball after running back Zavier Scott was hit in the backfield and lost the ball, and it ended a drive that had started in Cleveland territory.
The touchdown club
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (BYU and Orem High) scored for the third time this season, and second time on a reception, when he caught a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter to cut the Rams deficit to 20-14 against San Francisco. That score helped Los Angeles rally and force overtime before falling in the extra session to the 49ers, 26-23.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (Weber State) helped spark a rally for the Saints in their win by scoring on an 87-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter cut the New Orleans’ deficit to 14-13 against the Giants. It was a one-play drive and the longest reception of his four-year NFL career.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (Corner Canyon High and Roy High) threw two more touchdowns in his second career start. He found tight end Theo Johnson twice for first-half touchdowns of 1 and 15 yards, in helping the Giants take a 14-3 lead two minutes into the second quarter.
Team leaders
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (BYU and Orem High) once again led the Rams with 10 receptions, while adding 85 receiving yards, just three yards shy of the team high. He continues to be the NFL’s leading receiver in receptions (52) and receiving yards (588).
Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner (Utah State) had a game-high 14 tackles, including eight solo stops, and a QB hurry in the Commanders’ 27-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He’s currently second in the league with 56 tackles, just one shy of Miami linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
Buffalo tight end Dalton Kincaid (Utah) logged a career-high 108 receiving yards on six receptions during the Bills’ 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots. That included receptions of 20 and 23 yards on touchdown-scoring drives and another of 13 yards on a possession that ended in a field goal.
Houston tight end Dalton Schultz (Bingham High) again led his team in receptions, as he had five for 60 yards in the Texans’ 44-10 win over Baltimore, including a 21-yard catch, an 11-yard catch on third down inside the red zone to convert on Houston’s opening drive and led to a touchdown.
New Orleans wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (Weber State) had four receptions for a game-high 114 yards, with most of those yards coming on an 87-yard touchdown catch.
Notables
Baltimore linebacker Kyle Van Noy (BYU) had his first sack of the season on Sunday. He dropped CJ Stroud for an 8-yard loss on a third-and-5 play from the Baltimore 24 that forced Houston to kick a field goal early in the second quarter.
Buffalo punter Mitch Wishnowsky (Utah) signed with Bills during the week — giving Buffalo three former Utes — and ended up with two punts with a 35-yard average in the Bills’ loss to New England.
Baltimore quarterback Tyler Huntley (Utah) was elevated from the practice squad for this week, with Lamar Jackson missing the game with a hamstring strain. Huntley did not play in the loss, as Cooper Rush got the start.
