Idaho ties in the NFL: Boise State grad enjoys career day; Highland High alum makes debut
Boise State graduate John Bates saw increased playing time Sunday in one of the season’s big upsets after Washington wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones went down with an injury.
The 6-foot-6, 259-pound rookie tight end caught a career-best three receptions for 25 yards in Washington’s 29-19 win over Tampa Bay at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. His 18-yard catch in the third quarter was a career long. Bates now has five receptions for 36 yards this season.
Bates was also vindicated after a video review of a 2-yard reception in the third quarter. The ruling on the field was a fumble that was recovered by Tampa Bay. The call was reversed after review, and Bates was credited with a 1-yard catch.
But his biggest play of the game came without the football in his hands. Bates threw a key block on the left edge on Antonio Gibson’s win-sealing, 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down with 29 seconds left in the game.
Sunday was also a big day for Highland High School alum Tommy Togiai and former Boise State standout Marcus Henry.
Togiai made his NFL regular-season debut with Cleveland, totaling two tackles in the Browns’ 45-7 loss to New England while playing 22 snaps on defense (33%) and three on special teams (13%).
Henry received his first call-up of the 2021 season, playing four snaps at center in Arizona’s 34-10 loss to Carolina.
Below is a look at how players with Idaho ties performed in Week 10.
BOISE STATE
TE, John Bates, No. 87 Washington Football Team: Bates played 47 snaps on offense (64%) and nine on special teams (36%) as Washington defeated Tampa Bay 29-19.
G, Ezra Cleveland, No. 72 Minnesota Vikings: Started at left guard and played all 79 snaps on offense and five on special teams (18%) in the Vikings’ 27-20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
CB, Dont’e Deayon, No. 21 Los Angeles Rams: Deayon was not on the Rams’ active roster for their 31-10 loss to San Francisco.
OL, Marcus Henry, No. 53 Arizona Cardinals: Henry was elevated from the Cardinals’ practice squad and played four snaps at center (7%) in their 34-10 loss to Carolina. It was Henry’s first regular-season appearance in 2021.
WR, John Hightower, No. 82 Philadelphia Eagles: Hightower is a member of the Eagles’ practice squad and was not called up for their 30-13 win over Denver.
DE, DeMarcus Lawrence, No. 90 Dallas Cowboys: Remained on the injured list (fractured foot) for the Cowboys’ 43-3 win over Atlanta.
OT, Charles Leno Jr., No. 72 Washington Football Team: Started at left tackle and played all 73 snaps on offense and five on special teams (20%) as Washington downed Tampa Bay 29-19.
RB, Alexander Mattison, No. 25 Minnesota Vikings: Came off the bench and had four carries for 16 yards and caught one pass for 24 yards in the Vikings’ 27-20 victory against the Chargers. Mattison played 12 snaps on offense (15%) and five on special teams (18%).
RB, Jeremy McNichols, No. 28 Tennessee Titans: Came off the bench and had four carries for just 7 yards and made one catch for 1 yard as the Titans edged New Orleans 23-21. McNichols played 16 snaps on offense (27%).
DT, David Moa, No. 96 New York Giants: The Giants had a Week 10 bye.
G, John Molchon, No. 75 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Molchon is a member of the Bucs’ practice squad and was not called up for their 29-19 loss to Washington.
C, Matt Paradis (Council High), No. 61 Carolina Panthers: Paradis suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9.
QB, Brett Rypien, No. 4 Denver Broncos: Rypien was on the active roster but did not play in the Broncos’ 30-13 loss to Philadelphia.
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 made two tackles while playing 26 snaps on defense (35%) and 12 on special teams (48%) in the Cardinals’ 34-10 loss to Carolina.
LB, Leighton Vander Esch (Salmon River High), No. 55 Dallas Cowboys: Started at middle linebacker and made three tackles while playing 20 snaps on defense (37%) and one on special teams (4%) in the Cowboys’ 43-3 win against Atlanta.
DE, Curtis Weaver, No. 59 Cleveland Browns: Weaver is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 45-7 loss to New England.
CB, Avery Williams, No. 35 Atlanta Falcons: Started at cornerback, playing 31 snaps on defense (40%) and 20 on special teams (80%). Williams contributed one assisted tackle and one tackle on special teams while also returning three punts for a total of 11 yards, plus a fair catch, as the Falcons lost 43-3 to Dallas.
WR, Cedrick Wilson, No. 1 Dallas Cowboys: Came off the bench for one offensive snap as the Cowboys defeated Atlanta 43-3. Williams saw limited time because of a shoulder injury.
IDAHO
WR, Jeff Cotton, No. 88 Jacksonville Jaguars: Cotton is a member of the Jags’ practice squad and was not called up for their 23-17 loss to Indianapolis.
G/T, Jesse Davis, No. 77 Miami Dolphins: Started at right tackle and played all 69 snaps on offense and four on special teams (12%) in the Dolphins’ 22-10 victory over Baltimore.
LB, Christian Elliss, free agent: Elliss worked out for Green Bay on Monday, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
LB, Kaden Elliss, No. 55 New Orleans Saints: Started at linebacker and made a tackle on the Titans’ first play of their opening drive, and added a tackle on special teams while playing 23 snaps on defense (38%) and 26 on special teams (90%). Elliss was also flagged for a controversial roughing-the-passer penalty in the second quarter of the Saints’ 23-21 loss to Tennessee that negated an interception.
DE, Benson Mayowa, No. 10 Seattle Seahawks: Came off the bench and made two tackles while playing 28 snaps on defense (38%) in the Seahawks’ 17-0 loss to Green Bay.
RB, Elijhaa Penny, No. 39 New York Giants: The Giants had a Week 10 bye.
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 45-7 loss to New England.
QB, Taysom Hill (Highland High), No. 7 New Orleans Saints: Came off the bench and ran for 23 yards on three carries, completed 2-of-2 passes for 11 yards and caught one pass for 15 yards. Hill played 21 snaps on offense (31%) and nine on special teams (31%) in the Saints’ 23-21 loss to Tennessee. Saints coach Sean Payton said Hill got “nicked up” during the game, and his status is unclear, according to Sports Illustrated.
OL, Tristen Hoge (Highland High), Cleveland Browns: Hoge is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 45-7 loss to New England.
DT, Tommy Togiai (Highland High), No. 93 Cleveland Browns: Saw the first regular-season action of his NFL career, totaling two tackles in the Browns’ 45-7 loss to New England. Togiai played 22 snaps on defense (33%) and three on special teams (13%).
Note: There are currently no players from Idaho State listed on an NFL roster.
