Idaho ties in the NFL: Boise State alum suffers season-ending injury; Hightower elevated
Since he joined the Carolina Panthers in 2019, Matt Paradis has been a model for consistency.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound center out of Boise State had not missed a game for Carolina in three seasons — until Sunday.
Paradis suffered a season-ending ACL tear on the Panthers’ second play of their opening drive against the New England Patriots. With 9:48 left in the first quarter, he had to be helped off the field, and Carolina head coach Matt Rhule said Monday that Paradis is done for the season.
“Matt is a special guy,” Rhule told The Charlotte Observer. “Really heartbroken for him.”
Paradis was drafted with the 207th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. The Council High School graduate signed to the Broncos’ practice squad in 2014 and made his regular-season debut in 2015.
His first three seasons in Denver, Paradis was on the field for 100% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps, and he was on track for his fifth season without missing any snaps before Sunday’s injury.
Paradis is in the final year of a three-year, $27 million contract with the Panthers.
In 2018, Paradis ranked second among all NFL centers in his offensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus, as he allowed just one sack and three hurries on 569 snaps with Denver.
BOISE STATE
TE, John Bates, No. 87 Washington Football Team: Washington had a Week 9 bye.
G, Ezra Cleveland, No. 72 Minnesota Vikings: Started at left guard and played all 54 snaps on offense and five on special teams (15%). Cleveland was flagged for a holding penalty in the third quarter of the Vikings’ 34-31 overtime loss to Baltimore.
Kamalei Correa, free agent: Correa reportedly worked out for the Green Bay Packers last week.
CB, Dont’e Deayon, No. 21 Los Angeles Rams: Came off the bench and totaled three tackles, including one for loss, in the Rams’ 28-16 loss to Tennessee. Deayon was flagged for a 15-yard face mask penalty in the second quarter. He played 36 snaps on defense (62%).
OL, Marcus Henry, No. 53 Arizona Cardinals: Henry is a member of the Cardinals’ practice squad and was not called up for their 31-14 win over San Francisco.
WR, John Hightower, No. 82 Philadelphia Eagles: Hightower was called up from the Eagles’ practice squad for his first regular-season appearance of the season. He returned one kick for 17 yards and committed a fumble on the Eagles’ final play of the game on a lateral as they tried to extend a kick return. Hightower played two snaps on offense (4%) and nine on special teams (41%).
DE, DeMarcus Lawrence, No. 90 Dallas Cowboys: Remained on the injured list (fractured foot) for the Cowboys’ 30-16 loss to Denver.
OT, Charles Leno Jr., No. 72 Washington Football Team: Washington had a Week 9 bye.
RB, Alexander Mattison, No. 25 Minnesota Vikings: Came off the bench and had four carries for zero yards and caught one pass for 3 yards. Mattison played nine snaps on offense (17%) and six on special teams (18%) in the Vikings’ 34-31 overtime loss to Baltimore.
RB, Jeremy McNichols, No. 28 Tennessee Titans: Came off the bench and had 24 yards on seven carries and caught three passes for 11 yards. McNichols played 26 snaps on offense (45%) in the Titans’ 28-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
DT, David Moa, No. 96 New York Giants: Moa is a member of the Giants’ practice squad and was not called up for their 23-16 win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
G, John Molchon, No. 75 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs had a Week 9 bye.
C, Matt Paradis (Council High), No. 61 Carolina Panthers: Started at center but was injured on the Panthers’ second play of their first drive and did not return. An MRI revealed he tore his ACL and is done for the season.
QB, Brett Rypien, No. 4 Denver Broncos: Rypien was on the Broncos’ active roster but did not play in their 30-16 win over Dallas. With Drew Lock injured, Rypien was serving as the backup to starter Teddy Bridgewater.
S, Darian Thompson, No. 23 Dallas Cowboys: Thompson is a member of the Cowboys’ practice squad and is currently listed as injured.
ILB, Tanner Vallejo, No. 51 Arizona Cardinals: Started at inside linebacker and record three total tackles, including one for loss, and a pass defended. Vallejo played 29 snaps on defense (49%) and 11 on special teams (42%) as the Cardinals beat San Francisco 31-14.
LB, Leighton Vander Esch (Salmon River High), No. 55 Dallas Cowboys: Started at middle linebacker and made a game-high 12 tackles, including one tackle for loss, as the Cowboys lost 30-16 to Denver. Vander Esch played 51 snaps on defense (65%) and six on special teams (26%).
DE, Curtis Weaver, No. 59 Cleveland Browns: Weaver is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 41-16 win over Cincinnati.
CB, Avery Williams, No. 35 Atlanta Falcons: Came off the bench and contributed two tackles, a quarterback hurry and recovered a fumble by teammate Cordarrelle Patterson on a kick return. Williams also made one fair catch as a punt returner while playing 10 snaps on defense (13%) and 17 on special teams (63%) in the Falcons’ 27-25 win over New Orleans.
WR, Cedrick Wilson, No. 1 Dallas Cowboys: Started at receiver and caught two passes for 28 yards in the Cowboys’ 30-16 loss to Denver. As a punt returner, Wilson made one fair catch and muffed one return, which Dallas recovered. He played 51 snaps on offense (82%) and four on special teams (17%).
IDAHO
WR, Jeff Cotton, No. 88 Jacksonville Jaguars: Cotton is a member of the Jags’ practice squad and was not called up for their 9-6 victory over Buffalo.
G/T, Jesse Davis, No. 77 Miami Dolphins: Started at right tackle and played all 75 snaps on offense and three on special teams (12%) in the Dolphins’ 17-9 victory over Houston.
LB, Kaden Elliss, No. 55 New Orleans Saints: Came off the bench and made three total tackles while playing 11 snaps on defense (19%) and 23 on special teams (85%) in the Saints’ 27-25 loss to Atlanta.
DE, Benson Mayowa, No. 10 Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks had a Week 9 bye.
RB, Elijhaa Penny, No. 39 New York Giants: Came off the bench and gained 35 yards on five carries and caught two passes for minus-8 yards. Penny played 16 snaps on offense (29%) and 16 on special teams (62%) in the Giants’ 23-16 win over Las Vegas.
HIGH SCHOOLS
DE, Porter Gustin (Emmett High), No. 94 Cleveland Browns: Gustin is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 41-16 win over Cincinnati.
QB, Taysom Hill (Highland High), No. 7 New Orleans Saints: Playing in his first game after sustaining a concussion, Hill completed 2-of-2 passes for 33 yards and added one carry for 4 yards. He played 17 snaps on offense (22%) and three on special teams (11%) in the Saints’ 27-25 loss to Atlanta.
OL, Tristen Hoge (Highland High), Cleveland Browns: Hoge is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 41-16 win over Cincinnati.
DT, Tommy Togiai (Highland High), No. 93 Cleveland Browns: Togiai was not on the Browns’ active roster for the ninth straight week.
DL, Jonah Williams (Rocky Mountain High), free agent: Williams was waived by the L.A. Rams last week and claimed by Minnesota. However, Williams failed his physical and won’t join the Vikings. A source said he has a hernia, according to the Pioneer Press.
Note: There are currently no players from Idaho State listed on an NFL roster.
