Locals in the NFL: Nacua sets another league mark, Hill exits with injury in Rams' win

AROUND THE SHIELD — One year after his breakout, record-setting rookie season in the NFL, Puka Nacua isn't slowing down.

The former BYU star who prepped at Orem High surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards in his 24th game Sunday with the Los Angeles Rams, tying Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase as the second-fastest players to reach the milestone since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.

Odell Beckham Jr. posted the fastest path to 2,000 career yards in 21 games.

Nacua finished with five catches for 56 yards, none more important than the 7-yard grab he reeled in from Matthew Stafford with 8:54 left in the game. That gave the Rams a 21-14 lead after being shutout in the first half for the first time since 2016, and Los Angeles' defense did the rest to earn its sixth win of the year.

The Saints (4-8) got the ball back and moved the ball with a 7.5-minute drive all the way down to the Rams' 9-yard line. But Derek Carr's last pass fell incomplete to help LA hold on.

"Really, all of our offensive coaching staff did an excellent job (in the second half) just being able to communicate and just get us to some of the right things that we wanted to do," McVay said after the game. "And then, ultimately, it's always about the players bringing it to life, and they did that in a big way."

The game wasn't all good news for former BYU standouts playing each other.

Former BYU quarterback-turned-Saints utility star Taysom Hill was carted off the field with a knee injury after taking an apparent helmet to the knee while running for a first down late in the game.

His knee bent awkwardly backward as he fell, and Hill remained on the ground while athletic trainers attended to the injury before ultimately being carted off the field while the crowd chanted his name and he waved while being driven past them.

"Taysom goes down, a lot of the guys are disappointed," said Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi of Hill, who has reportedly dealt with a bruised lung and played with cracked ribs for part of the season, per ESPN.

Hill caught a team-high five catches for 37 yards, ran for 10 yards on five carries, and helped New Orleans to a 6-0 halftime lead. He started at tight end, but also saw snaps at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and fullback with the Saints before his injury.

Monday Night Football

Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos

Broncos (7-5)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon
• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah

Browns (3-8)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah
• Winston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills

Sunday Night Football

Buffalo 35, San Francisco 10

Bills (10-2)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Reserve safety had two tackles and a forced fumble on special teams
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Inactive for Week 13
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel made six tackles

49ers (5-7)

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

Sunday afternoon

Los Angeles 17, Atlanta 13

Chargers (7-4)

• Alohi Gilman, WR, Orem (via Notre Dame): Placed on injured reserve Saturday

Falcons (6-5)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back had 16 yards on eight carries with one catch for 6 yards
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made four tackles, a pass defended and a fumble recovery
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker posted a team-high five tackles, a sack and a pass defended

Pittsburgh 44, Cincinnati 38

Steelers (9-3)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back had 9 yards on three carries, 55 yards on four catches, and 15 yards on one kickoff return
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety had three tackles on special teams

Bengals (4-8)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted twice for 87 yards (43.5 yards per punt), with two punts downed inside the 20
• Tanner McLachlan, TE, Southern Utah (via Arizona): Inactive for Week 13
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive lineman made one tackle

Houston 23, Jacksonville 20

Texans (8-5)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught five passes for 61 yards, including the game-winning touchdown from 22 yards out

Jaguars (2-10)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker posted six tackles, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and a pass defended

Minnesota 23, Arizona 22

Vikings (10-2)

• No locals on the active roster

Cardinals (6-6)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Inactive for Week 13

Indianapolis 24, New England 24

Colts (6-7)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Reserve tackle also played on special teams
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting free safety had five tackles and an interception with a 17-yard return
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked a 25-yard field goal with two PATs

Patriots (3-10)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams

Seattle 26, New York 21

Seahawks (7-5)

• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Inactive for Week 13
• Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah: Started at right guard

Jets (3-9)

• No locals on the active roster

Washington 42, Tennessee 19

Commanders (8-5)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker had five tackles and a quarterback hit
• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback made one tackle on special teams

Titans (3-9)

• Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB, BYU (via Tennessee): Inactive for Week 13

Los Angeles 21, New Orleans 14

Rams (6-6)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver caught five passes for 56 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown, and ran for 7 yards

Saints (4-8)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Starting tight end ran for 10 yards on five carries and caught five passes for 37 yards before leaving with an injury (knee)
• Dallin Holker, TE, BYU/Lehi (via Colorado State): Reserve tight end also played on special teams
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve running back caught one pass for seven yards

Tampa Bay 26, Carolina 23

Buccaneers (6-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Panthers (3-9)

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

Philadelphia 24, Baltimore 19

Eagles (10-2)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Starting receiver returned four punts for 29 yards (7.3 yards per return) and was targeted once on offense

Ravens (8-5)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Inactive for Week 13
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Inactive for Week 13

Friday

Kansas City 19, Las Vegas 17

Chiefs (11-1)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Reserve tackle played two snaps on offense, six more on special teams

Raiders (2-10)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Active, but did not play
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Starting center played all 68 snaps on offense

Thanksgiving Day

Detroit 23, Chicago 20

Lions (11-1)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Starting right tackle took a sack on a pass attempt and played all 70 offensive snaps
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Starting wide receiver caught two passes for 48 yards in 49 offensive snaps
• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Reserve running back played 18 snaps on special teams

Bears (4-8)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made three tackles in 69 defensive snaps
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Starting left tackle played all 67 offensive snaps
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker played 15 snaps on special teams

Dallas 27, New York 20

Cowboys (5-7)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Reserve linebacker played 20 snaps on special teams

Giants (2-10)

• No locals on the active roster

Green Bay 30, Miami 17

Packers (9-3)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 21-of-28 passes for 274 yards with two touchdowns
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve tailback had three carries for 28 yards in 15 offensive snaps
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety made two tackles in 17 snaps on special teams

Dolphins (5-7)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Inactive for Week 13

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