Utah Professional Athletes

Kincaid Is Rewriting Bills Tight End History

Dalton Kincaid is doing something Buffalo's franchise hasn't seen in nearly six decades — and he's doing it in back-to-back weeks.

The former Utah first-round pick opened the season with 130 receiving yards on five catches in a 36-31 road win over the Texans on September 13, then followed it up Thursday night with seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown in a 41-31 drubbing of the Lions. According to Heavy Sports, that historic pace stretches back to the franchise's AFL days in the 1960s — and per Sports Illustrated, Kincaid has a real chance to keep it going.

Sports Illustrated noted that Kincaid was among the biggest snap-count winners in Week 1, a sign the Bills' offensive staff is leaning into him as a genuine centerpiece rather than a complementary piece. By Week 2, the fantasy football world was catching up: Yahoo Sports flagged Kincaid as a "league winner" type asset after his TNF explosion, and SI's start/sit analysts were already debating him against Detroit's Sam LaPorta — a conversation that would have been unthinkable a month ago.

The Bills hosted a Thursday night showcase that felt tailor-made for Kincaid's coming-out party, and he delivered. With Josh Allen operating at MVP-caliber efficiency, Kincaid is the clearest beneficiary. For Ute fans watching a former Salt Lake City standout command the middle of an NFL offense, these two weeks have offered something rare: genuine franchise-altering production.

Vele Announces Himself in New Orleans

Across the league in the NFC South, fellow Ute Devaughn Vele made a statement of his own in Week 1. Playing for the Saints in a narrow 30-31 loss to the Lions, Vele hauled in seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown — a breakout that sent fantasy analysts scrambling to waiver wires before Week 2.

Heavy Sports and Sports Illustrated both flagged Vele as one of the most important pickups of the week, noting that he gives Saints quarterback Tyler Shough a reliable second option alongside Chris Olave — who entered the week limited in practice. With Olave's health uncertain heading into Week 2, Vele's role only stood to expand. For a player who arrived in New Orleans with modest expectations, the debut was a full-throated introduction.

Around the Rest of the Ute Nation

The Kincaid and Vele storylines dominated the Utah alumni ledger, but a few other Utes merit mention. Cole Bishop, the Bills' second-year safety and fellow Kincaid teammate, appeared in both Buffalo wins and briefly left the Week 1 game before being deemed unscathed, per Sports Illustrated. He was back on the field Thursday as the Bills' defense clamped down on Detroit in the second half.

In Chicago, cornerback Jaylon Johnson drew headlines for candid comments about Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson ahead of a Week 2 matchup — calling Jefferson "top one or two" since his sophomore season and generating debate about whether Johnson was being diplomatic or genuinely confident. The Bears lost to Carolina badly in Week 1, 59-37, and Johnson was among those in the secondary facing heat entering the second week of the season.

And in Tennessee, linebacker Cody Barton's spot in the starting lineup came under pressure after the Titans' Week 1 loss to the Jets, with Sports Illustrated reporting that rookie Anthony Hill Jr.'s debut made a compelling case for a change at the position.

Kincaid Set Up to Feast in Bills' Opener

Dalton Kincaid enters the 2026 season with momentum — and a matchup to match. The Bills tight end draws Houston's secondary in what analysts are flagging as a favorable schematic setup, with Buffalo's aerial attack expected to stress a Texans defense that has vulnerabilities at the second level. Kincaid spoke with Bleacher Report ahead of the season opener about Josh Allen, DJ Moore, and the franchise's ongoing Super Bowl chase — a dream he made clear he shares with the fanbase. The Bills, loaded at skill positions, look to Kincaid as a mismatch weapon, not just a complementary piece.

Johnson's $76M Bounce-Back Moment

Jaylon Johnson had an uncharacteristically quiet 2025. That's the awkward reality the Bears and their two-time Pro Bowl cornerback are both eager to move past. Chicago's defense has grown around Johnson — Ben Johnson's second-year roster is far more talented than the rebuilding squads where Johnson once functioned as the lone defensive anchor — but that depth cut both ways last season, as his individual impact numbers softened. Now, with a two-year spotlight and Super Bowl buzz circulating inside Halas Hall, Johnson is channeling that energy into a leadership reset. Per Sports Illustrated, Super Bowl talk has been a genuine motivational driver for the former All-Pro. Heavy Sports reports he's primed for a bounce-back campaign behind a $76 million contract that demands he reclaim the elite tier he's shown flashes of throughout his career.

Covey Fights for His Special Teams Role

Britain Covey's path back to the Eagles' active roster runs through the return game — literally. After being cut, the veteran receiver and dynamic punt returner earned a promising mention from Eagles insider Jimmy Kempski of The Philly Voice, who pegged Covey as the favorite to reclaim the return duties heading into the season. Four years in the league haven't guaranteed him a permanent roster spot, but his elite return ability keeps him relevant — and, apparently, near the front of the line.

Wishnowsky Elevated, Then Returns to Practice Squad

Mitch Wishnowsky made a cameo in the NFL's opening week under unusual circumstances. The Patriots elevated the punter from their practice squad for their Wednesday night season opener against the Seahawks at Lumen Field — a 13-10 Seattle win — then reverted him back after the game. Both moves were standard elevation procedures, per Yahoo Sports, but the game-week action signals that New England views Wishnowsky as a reliable depth option at the position.

Tim Patrick Sidelined Early

There's a concerning note for Tim Patrick's fresh start with the Jets. The veteran wide receiver missed Wednesday's practice, appearing on New York's injury report early in the week. Patrick's availability for the Jets' opener remains something to monitor after a career that has been repeatedly interrupted by injury.

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Utah's NFL alumni class spans rosters from coast to coast, and Week 1 of 2026 is already producing meaningful story lines — from Kincaid's Super Bowl aspirations in Buffalo to Johnson's redemption arc in Chicago to Covey's quiet battle to stay on an NFL field. The Utes' professional footprint is wide, and the season is just beginning.

From a blockbuster trade to a surprise starting opportunity and a Super Bowl subplot, Utah's NFL alumni class is generating headlines before the 2026 season even kicks off.

Clark Phillips III Lands in Chicago

The biggest move involving a Ute this week came in the form of a surprise trade: the Chicago Bears acquired cornerback Clark Phillips III from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and a fifth-round pick. The deal puts Phillips — a former Utah standout — back in a scheme where he'll compete for slot cornerback duties. Per Sports Illustrated, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has others ahead of Phillips on the depth chart for now, but Phillips has publicly stated he's ready for the challenge. With Jaylon Johnson entrenched as Chicago's top corner and drawing praise for playing at an elite level, the Bears' secondary is suddenly a Ute-heavy operation worth watching.

Jonah Elliss Gets His Shot in Denver

In Denver, opportunity knocked loudly for Jonah Elliss. Starting outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List after a serious off-field legal matter, opening the door for Elliss to step into a prominent pass-rush role. The Broncos' front office has expressed belief in Elliss, a second-generation Bronco who has flashed pass-rush upside since entering the league. Pro Football Focus analyst Bradley Locker noted that while Elliss has shown promise, the jump from rotational piece to every-down starter demands more consistency. He'll share the vacancy with Que Robinson, but this is the clearest path to a featured role Elliss has had in his NFL career. Fellow Ute Garett Bolles continues anchoring the offensive line in Denver, and he's publicly excited about what new offensive coordinator Davis Webb brings to the table.

Dalton Kincaid: The Bills' Wild Card

In Buffalo, tight end Dalton Kincaid is drawing attention as the X-factor in the Bills' Super Bowl calculus. Sports Illustrated identified Kincaid as the key variable — a player whose efficiency and usage in the passing game could determine how far Buffalo goes in 2026. Kincaid has the talent; the question is whether he can stay healthy and carve out the target share that elevates him from complementary piece to genuine weapon. Cole Bishop and Keaton Bills also remain part of that Bills roster, keeping Utah's presence strong in western New York.

Elsewhere Around the League

The week produced a handful of other notable Ute moments. Matt Gay locked down the Raiders' kicking job heading into the regular season, winning what had been an open competition in Las Vegas. Britain Covey finds herself on the Eagles' practice squad but tops the list of players most likely to be elevated, with Eagles Wire citing his impressive preseason. Zemaiah Vaughn is one of three Vikings players flagged as still needing to prove their roster worth to head coach Kevin O'Connell as cuts loom. And Mitch Wishnowsky caught on with the Patriots' practice squad after New England placed starter Bryce Baringer on IR — a sudden opportunity to reclaim an NFL punting job. Tim Patrick faces his own pressure with the Jets, with September performance expected to determine whether he sticks on the roster at all.

It's a lot of movement for one alumni base — and the regular season hasn't even started.

A tough few days for the Utes in the NFL

The final preseason weekend is always brutal — and for Utah alumni, this one left a mark. Two of the program's most recognizable NFL names absorbed significant blows before the 53-man roster cuts were finalized.

Wishnowsky loses the punter battle in Buffalo

Mitch Wishnowsky, the former punter who spent six seasons with the 49ers before signing with the Bills this offseason, was released as Buffalo trimmed its roster from 90 to 53. According to Pro Football Talk, the Bills used the cut to settle their punter competition — and Wishnowsky came out on the wrong side of it. The 32-year-old Australian is now a free agent, looking for what would be his third NFL home.

It's a quiet end to a chapter that included some strong moments in San Francisco, but the writing had been on the wall through camp. Wishnowsky still has the leg to compete for a roster spot elsewhere — expect a phone to ring somewhere around the league as injuries and special teams performance shake out over the first few weeks of the regular season.

Sewell carted off during Bears-Bengals preseason game

The more alarming development came out of Chicago. Bears linebacker Nephi Sewell was carted off the field during Saturday's preseason game against the Bengals with a leg injury, according to Yahoo Sports. The severity of the injury was not immediately confirmed in the reporting, but the image of any player leaving on a cart is never a good sign — particularly in a late-preseason game that carries real 53-man roster implications.

Sewell, a former Utah standout, had been working to cement a role in Chicago's defense. The timing couldn't be worse. Even if the injury falls on the less serious end of the spectrum, a cart departure in the final preseason week puts his roster status in immediate jeopardy and clouds what had been a promising camp trajectory.

One bright note: Huntley delivers in Baltimore

Not everything was grim for the Utes. Tyler Huntley threw a touchdown pass in the Ravens' dominant 41-3 rout of the Washington Commanders on Friday night, per Sportsnet. For Huntley, a perennial backup who has carved out real NFL longevity on the strength of his versatility and pocket management, it was a clean send-off into the regular season. Whether he sticks as Baltimore's No. 2 behind Lamar Jackson remains the annual question, but he did his part to answer it.

The bottom line

Three Utah alumni, three different preseason trajectories. Huntley heads into September with momentum. Wishnowsky heads into free agency. And Sewell's status is now the most pressing unknown in the Utah NFL community heading into Week 1.