AROUND THE SHIELD — As recently as two weeks ago, Britain Covey wasn’t practicing with the Philadelphia Eagles as the former University of Utah receiver recovered from a hamstring injury, per ESPN.
The decision was a big one, as Covey — who returned to the Eagles after signing a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams last year — tried to earn his spot on the 53-man roster in the City of Brotherly Love.
Saturday’s performance won’t hurt, though.
Covey started at wide out in a 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots in the Week 2 of the NFL preseason, when he hauled in a 14-yard touchdown strike from Tanner McKee that gave the Eagles a 14-10 halftime lead.
The 5-foot-8 former quarterback at Timpview High took a screen pass from his fellow member returned missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then cut inside to scramble over the goal line for the score.
The touchdown may have been just as important for McKee, the Stanford grad who is battling with Andy Dalton to back up three-time Pro Bowl signal caller Jalen Hurts. The two have split second-team reps in training camp, per local reports, though Dalton has been a steadying presence while leaning on his 16 years of NFL experience.
But McKee entered Saturday’s preseason contest late and ran an efficiency offense with 173 passing yards, two touchdowns and a 125.8 passer rating while finding Covey and running back Carson Steele for the pair of scores.
Week 2 of the NFL preseason is pivotal for a lot of players, especially those trying to make an active roster. Here’s a look at how several former Utah high school and college football players performed.
Thursday nightLas Vegas 22, Houston 20
Raiders
Isaiah Jatta, OT, BYU/Snow: Reserve lineman played 17 snaps on offenseChase Roberts, WR, BYU/American Fork: Reserve wide receiver played eight snaps on offense, made two tackles in nine snaps on special teamsBraeden Daniels, OL, Utah: Reserve lineman played 35 snaps on offenseMatt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Played three snaps on special teams, including a 52-yard field-goal conversionCian Slone, DE, Utah State: Reserve end had two tackles and a quarterback hurry in 23 defensive snaps, added 21 snaps on special teamsDeven Thompkins, WR, Utah State: Reserve receiver caught one pass for four yards, ran twice for nine yards in seven snaps on offense; added three punt returners for 15 yards, one kick return for 23 yards in 10 snaps on special teamsTaron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Active, but did not playJackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Active, but did not play
Houston
Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Active, but did not playSan Francisco 41, Los Angeles 17
49ers
Jakob Robinson, CB, Orem/Utah State/BYU: Reserve cornerback had three tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass defended in 27 snaps on defense; also played six snaps on special teamsFred Warner, LB, BYU: Active, but did not play
Chargers
No locals on the active rosterFriday nightNew York 17, Pittsburgh 0
Jets
Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Reserve receiver caught two passes for 14 yards in six snaps on offense; also played six snaps on special teamsJunior Tafuna, DT, Utah/Bingham: Reserve defensive lineman played 21 snaps on defense
Steelers
Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Starting tailback ran for 17 yards on five carries in nine snaps on offenseCarolina 34, Jacksonville 17
Panthers
Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful: Reserve lineman played 34 snaps on offense, seven on special teamsDevin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Active, but did not playMiles Davis, RB, Utah State/BYU: Reserve running back had 11 yards on three carries in four offensive snaps; returned one kickoff for 22 yards in five snaps on special teams
Jaguars
Brady Boyd, WR, Utah State: Reserve receiver was targeted once in 18 snaps on offense, also played one snap on special teamsGreen Bay 33, Denver 13
Packers
Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 5-of-7 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in 14 offensive snapsThomas Yassmin, TE, Utah: Reserve tight end caught one pass for six yards in 17 offensive snaps, added six snaps on special teamsChris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back had 12 yards on five carries, caught one pass for 1 yard in 15 offensive snaps; added two snaps on special teams
Broncos
Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah/Snow/Taylorsville: Reserve tight end played six snaps on offense, three snaps on special teamsGarett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Starting left tackle played 14 snaps on offenseJonah Elliss, OLB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made two tackles in 22 defensive snapsCaleb Lohner, TE, Utah/BYU/Wasatch Academy: Active, but did not playKarene Reid, LB, Utah/Timpview: Reserve linebacker made three tackles in 33 defensive snaps, also played 15 snaps on special teamsKyrese Rowan, WR, Utah State/Utah/Roy: Reserve receiver played two snaps on offenseGavin Ortega, OL, Weber State: Reserve lineman played 30 snaps on offense, also three snaps on special teamsSaturday nightDetroit 17, Washington 13
Lions
Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Active, but did not playSione Vaki, RB, Utah: Active, but did not play
Commanders
Tanoa Togiai, OG, Utah: Reserve lineman played 42 snaps on offense, three on special teamsBuffalo 31, Cleveland 7
Bills
Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Active, but did not playDalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Active, but did not playMitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted one time for 59 yards in six snaps on special teamsJackson Hawes, TE, Highland (via Georgia Tech): Starting tight end caught one pass for two yards in 11 offensive snaps, added six snaps on special teams
Browns
Carsen Ryan, TE, BYU/American Fork/Timpview: Reserve tight end caught one pass for 13 yards in 40 offensive snaps, added seven snaps on special teamsLogan Fano, DE, Utah/Timpview: Reserve defensive lineman made three tackles in 18 defensive snaps, one tackle in 11 snaps on special eamsSpencer Fano, OT, Utah/Timpview: Active, but did not playWinston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills: Starting linebacker made five tackles in 36 defensive snaps, one tackle in nine snaps on special teamsAtlanta 34, Indianapolis 6
Falcons
Keelan Marion, WR, BYU (via Miami): Reserve wide receiver was targeted three times in 25 offensive snaps, returned one kick for six yards in one snap on special teamsClark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made one tackle in 27 defensive snaps, one tackle in 10 snaps on special teams
Colts
Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Starting left tackle played 50 snaps on offense, three snaps on special teamsBaltimore 13, Minnesota 3
Ravens
Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Starting quarterback completed 5-of-8 passes for 63 yards and ran for 10 yards on three carries in 19 offensive snapsDontae McMillan, RB, Weber State: Reserve running back ran for -1 yards on three carries in 16 offensive snaps, also played seven snaps on special teams
Vikings
Tyler Batty, LB, BYU/Payson: Reserve linebacker totaled three tackles and a quarterback hurry in 21 defensive snapsZemaiah Vaughn, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback made two tackles in 29 defensive snaps, also played eight snaps on special teamsLos Angeles 34, New Orleans 0
Rams
Wyatt Bowles, OL, Utah State/Syracuse: Starting right guard played 79 offensive snaps and six on special teamsPuka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Active, but did not play
Saints
Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed 6-of-12 passes for 55 yards and ran for 19 yards on four carries in 26 offensive snapsJulian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Active, but did not playTerrell Burgess, S, Utah: Starting safety made four tackles in 51 defensive snaps, also played 12 snaps on special tamsDevaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Active, but did not playKaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Active, but did not playNew York 26, Miami 3
Giants
Jack Kelly, LB, BYU/Weber State/Kearns: Reserve linebacker made one tackle in 20 snaps on defense, also played 11 snaps on special teamsLeki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Reserve defensive lineman made two tackles in 11 defensive snapsDamon Bankston, RB, Weber State: Reserve running back ran for five yards on seven carries, caught two passes for two yards on 18 offensive snaps; and returned one kick for 29 yards in two snaps on special teamsJaxson Dart, QB, Corner Canyon/Roy (via Ole Miss): Active, but did not play
Dolphins
Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Starting safety played 11 snaps on defense, one on special teamsMiles Battle, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback made three tackles in 39 defensive snaps, one tackle in seven snaps on special teamsCincinnati 27, Chicago 9
Bengals
Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted five times for 223 yards in 10 snaps on special teamsJalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Active, but did not play
Bears
Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting defensive back had one tackle in 14 defensive snapsJaren Kump, OL, Utah/Herriman: Reserve offensive lineman played 12 snaps on offense, three snaps on special teamsNephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker had a tackle and a quarterback hurry in 17 defensive snapsNew England 24, Philadelphia 21
Patriots
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah: Starting left tackle played 60 snaps on offense, three on special teamsChristian Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Active, but did not play
Eagles
Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Starting wide receiver had a 14-yard touchdown catch in 19 offensive snaps, added four punt returns for 38 yards in five snaps on special teamsJa’Quinden Jackson, RB, Utah: Reserve running back made one tackle in one snap on special teamsCameron Latu, TE, Olympus (via Alabama): Reserve tight end caught one pass for 14 yards in 22 offensive snaps, added nine snaps on special teamsTampa Bay 16, Kansas City 15
Buccaneers
Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Active, but did not playKeionte Scott, CB, Snow (via Miami): Starting defensive back made three tackles in 25 defensive snaps, added one tackle in 11 snaps on special teams
Chiefs
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Starting left guard played 12 offensive snapsKhyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Starting nose tackle played six defensive snapsJalen Royals, WR, Utah State: Starting wide receiver caught game-high six passes for 51 yards in 36 offensive snaps, added five snaps on special teamsJeffrey Bassa, LB, Kearns (via Oregon): Starting linebacker made one tackle in 17 defensive snaps, added one tackle in six snaps on special teamsAlohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Active, but did not playDallas 34, Arizona 13
Cowboys
No locals on the active roster
Cardinals
Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Active, but did not playKedon Slovis, QB, BYU: Reserve quarterback completed 2-of-7 passes for 30 yards, ran for 11 yards in 18 offensive snapsJonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive lineman had one tackle in 27 defensive snaps, added six snaps on special teamsSimi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Reserve receiver caught two passes for 42 yards in 46 offensive snaps, added eight snaps on special teamsSunday nightTennessee 19, Seattle 16
Titans
Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker made two tackles on defenseMohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker had four tackles and shared a sack on defenseAndre James, C, Herriman (via UCLA): Reserve lineman rotated at center
Seahawks
Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Active, but did not playConnor O’Toole, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker totaled four tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries on defense