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The NFL playoffs have arrived.
The postseason gets underway this week with wild-card weekend, starting with the Los Angeles Chargers at the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon and ending with the Minnesota Vikings at the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
Three teams that play this weekend feature a former Utah player on their active playoff roster, and the Detroit Lions, which locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC, feature two former Utes.
Running back Sione Vaki, who has rushed for 14 yards and has been a mainstay on special teams coverage, and wide receiver Tim Patrick, who has 33 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns, will get to rest this week, then play the lowest remaining seed in the divisional round.
Two of the six matchups this weekend will feature at least one former University of Utah player; here’s how to watch them.
(Note: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and punt returner Britain Covey is on injured reserve; Pittsburgh Steelers safety Eric Rowe and Denver Broncos tight end Thomas Yassmin are on the practice squad.)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. MST, CBS and Paramount+.
- Marcus Williams, S, Baltimore Ravens
Williams, who has been in the NFL for eight seasons and has been with the Ravens since 2022, is still on Baltimore’s active roster, though he was benched by the team in a Week 11 win vs. Cincinnati.
Williams and Baltimore agreed to a revised contract that will likely allow him to be on a new team next year.
Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills, Sunday, 11 a.m., CBS and Paramount+.
- Cody Barton, LB, Denver Broncos
Barton earned a starting role with the Broncos in Week 3 and has made the most of it, totaling 106 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two interceptions.
- Garett Bolles, OT, Denver Broncos
Bolles, a longtime Broncos starter along the offensive line, is making his first trip to the playoffs. The recent beneficiary of a four-year, $82 million contract, Bolles has grown into one of the most consistent tackles in the league and has done well protecting quarterback Bo Nix.
- Jonah Elliss, OLB, Denver Broncos
Elliss has carved out a nice role as an outside linebacker in the Broncos defense, playing at least 17 snaps in all of Denver’s games this season. Elliss has totaled 38 tackles, five sacks and two pass deflections in his rookie season.
- Devaughn Vele, WR, Denver Broncos
Vele has been one of the NFL’s most surprising stories this season. The former Ute was selected in the final round of the 2024 NFL draft, but has turned into one of Nix’s most reliable receivers. Vele has the third-most receptions on the team (41) for 475 yards and three touchdowns.
- Cole Bishop, S, Buffalo Bills
Bishop has started four games for Buffalo, appearing in 16, and has totaled 40 tackles, a forced fumble and two pass deflections in his rookie campaign. Due to injuries, Bishop took on a bigger role towards the end of the season, starting three contests. He could see a role in the playoffs, but Damar Hamlin is back and will be the starter opposite Taylor Rapp.
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
Kincaid, now in his second season with the Bills, continues to be one of Josh Allen’s go-to targets. Kincaid has 44 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns, picking up right where he left off after a great rookie season.
In Case You Missed It
Utah athletic director Mark Harlan sat down with the Deseret News for an exclusive interview. The two-part series touches on numerous topics, including Kyle Whittingham’s return, revenue sharing, the transfer portal and NIL, his postgame remarks after the BYU-Utah game, Utah basketball, Morgan Scalley and more.
From the Archives
Extra Points
- What Gavin Petersen said about Kennady McQueen’s injury and her availability moving forward (Deseret News)
- Utah’s top scorer is ‘in a little bit of a funk.’ Can Gabe Madsen and the Utes remedy it soon? (Deseret News)
- Red Rocks easily beat Utah State in season opener but are left wanting much more (Deseret News)
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