Locals in the NFL: Garett Bolles shows he has Broncos rookie QB's back — literally

AROUND THE SHIELD — Bo Nix's rookie season with the Broncos didn't start out any way he would have preferred, except that it was probably pretty rookie-like.

The former Oregon star had just one touchdown pass to four interceptions in his first four starts for a middling 2-2 record.

Nearly two months later, Nix is finding his form — and one man has been behind him the whole way, including literally after he threw for 273 yards with two touchdowns in Denver's 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders to improve to 7-5 Sunday afternoon.

That would be his starting left tackle, former Utah offensive lineman Garett Bolles, who surprised the youngster during his walk-off interview on CBS.

"Best rookie in the class, baby," Bolles yelled as he grabbed his quarterback from behind, laughing and shouting.

After seven seasons and 106 games in the league after prepping at Westlake High and eventually Snow College, Bolles may have finally found his quarterback.

But his trust is more than one viral postgame sound clip. Bolles strongly believes the Broncos have found a "special" quarterback, the guy who connected with Courtland Sutton in the third quarter to break the Broncos' rookie record for touchdown passes of 14 held by Marlin Briscoe since 1968.

"Bo's a dual threat. He can throw the ball and he can run. He's special," he told the Denver Post's Andre Mason last month. "We needed to do our job tonight by protecting him. And we created open lanes in the passing game for him to throw the ball to our playmakers. And we got the ball rolling. So when we got the ball rolling down the field, it opens up lanes for him to do what he needs to do, and that's what makes him special."

After trailing by 4 points at halftime, Nix rallied the Broncos with a 20-6 second half as the Denver defense held Las Vegas out of the end zone en route to a 10-point win that helps the Broncos keep pace with the Chargers for playoff contention in the AFC West.

Whatever it is, Nix has Denver believing — just ask his left tackle.

"We just never lost that edge," Nix said after the game. "We never lost the faith on the sideline and always kind of figured we were going to find a way to win. That just marks a good team."

Here's how other former Utah high school and college football standouts performed in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL regular season.

Monday Night Football

Baltimore 30, Los Angeles 23

Ravens (8-4)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker had two tackles, a sack and a forced fumble on defense
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Reserve safety played one snap on defense

Chargers (7-4)

• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety had one pass defended in 44 defensive snaps

Sunday Night Football

Philadelphia 37, Los Angeles 20

Eagles (9-2)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Reserve wide receiver returned one punt for 8 yards with two fair catches on special teams

Rams (5-6)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver caught nine passes for 117 yards (of Matthew Stafford's 243 passing yards)
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive lineman also played on special teams

Sunday afternoon

Kansas City 30, Carolina 27

Chiefs (10-1)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Reserve tackle also played on special teams

Panthers (3-8)

• Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful: Reserve lineman also played on special teams

Minnesota 30, Chicago 27

Vikings (9-2)

• No locals on the active roster

Bears (4-7)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback also played on special teams
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker also played on special teams

Tennessee 32, Houston 27

Titans (3-8)

• Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB, BYU (via Tennessee): Active, but did not play

Texans (7-5)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught two passes for 20 yards

Detroit 24, Indianapolis 6

Lions (10-1)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Started at right tackle
• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Reserve running back also played on special teams
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Starting wide receiver caught four passes for 55 yards

Colts (5-7)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Reserve tackle also played on special teams
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting safety had four tackles and a pass defended
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked field goals of 27 and 29 yards, with three kickoffs

Miami 34, New England 15

Dolphins (5-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Patriots (3-9)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker made one tackle on defense

Dallas 34, Washington 26

Cowboys (4-7)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams

Commanders (2-6)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback had two tackles and a pass defended on defense, and a blocked kick recovery on special teams
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker tied for the team-high with eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery on defense

Denver 29, Las Vegas 19

Broncos (7-5)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker tied for the team high-high with six tackles, 0.5 sacks, a quarterback hit and a pass defended on defense
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Starting wide receiver caught six passes for 80 yards
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker had two tackles and a sack on defense
• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 12

Raiders (2-9)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Reserve center also played on special teams
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Started at center

Green Bay 38, San Francisco 10

Packers (8-3)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 13-of-23 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns with two sacks taken
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran four times for 11 yards, caught one pass for 15 yards
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety also played on special teams

Seattle 16, Arizona 6

Seahawks (6-5)

• Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah: Inactive for Week 12

Cardinals (6-5)

• Khyiris Tonga, OT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive lineman made one tackle

49ers (5-6)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker totaled six tackles on defense

Thursday Night Football

Cleveland 24, Pittsburgh 19

Browns (3-8)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had six tackles and a tackle for loss in 56 defensive snaps

Steelers (8-3)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for 45 yards and a touchdown, and caught three passes for 19 yards in 29 offensive snaps
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle in 12 snaps on special teams

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