How Tucsonans, former Arizona Wildcats fared in the NFL regular season

It was a a busy football season in the professional football world for former Arizona Wildcats and Tucson natives.

Former UA star linebacker Scooby Wright III officially retired from football, due to a series of injuries, after stints in the NFL, XFL, Alliance of American Football (AAF) and USFL, where he won two championships with the Birmingham Stallions.

Arguably the greatest running back in UA history and Canyon del Oro High School product Ka’Deem Carey helped the Toronto Argonauts win a Grey Cup — his first in the Canadian Football League — and was a CFL All-Star.

South of the Canadian border, several Arizona Wildcats and Tucsonans played in the NFL this season. Many of them weren’t on the active 53-man rosters for most of the season, but held practice squad spots with their respective teams, including running backs Michael Wiley (Washington Commanders), DJ Williams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Gary Brightwell (Cincinnati Bengals), along with defensive back Dane Cruikshank (Atlanta Falcons), kicker Lucas Havrisik (Buffalo Bills) and defensive tackle Tyler Manoa (Las Vegas Raiders).

Following an eventful Week 18 to cap the regular season, the NFL is now shifting to the (in Jim Mora’s voice) playoffs, which begins on Saturday.

Here’s a look at how those Wildcats and “T-Locs” performed in the regular season and what lies ahead:

Jacob Cowing, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Connection to Tucson: Cowing played at the UA

How he performed: The fourth-round pick and rookie appeared in 15 games for San Francisco and had four catches for 80 yards. Cowing, who owns Arizona’s all-time single-season touchdown record, was used primarily on special teams and had 28 punt returns for 245 yards.

What’s next: The Niners did not make the postseason for the first time in four seasons. Prior to this season, San Francisco played in three straight NFC championships.

Tony Fields II, LB, Los Angeles Rams

Connection to Tucson: Fields played at the UA

How he performed: Fields suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and was waived by the Cleveland Browns, before signing with the Rams’ practice squad.

What’s next: The Rams host the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium on Monday at 6 p.m. on ESPN and ABC.

Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles,

LB, San Francisco 49ers

Connection to Tucson: Flannigan-Fowles played at Tucson High and the UA

How he performed: In 12 games this season, the linebacker-safety hybrid totaled 17 tackles and his first-career interception.

What’s next: The Niners did not make the postseason for the first time in four seasons. Flannigan-Fowles is set to become a free agent this offseason.

Nick Folk, K, Tennessee Titans

Connection to Tucson: Folk played at the UA

How he performed: The 40-year-old Folk is the only Wildcat from the Mike Stoops era still in the NFL. Folk was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for converting on three field goals of 50-plus yards and four PATs in a win over the Miami Dolphins. Folk made 21 of 22 field goals this season and all 25 of his PATs; he led the NFL in field-goal percentage (with a minimum of 10 attempts) for the second straight season. Folk has made 403 of 478 field-goal attempts and 511 of his 528 extra-point attempts over his career. His 84.3% field-goal rate ranks 28th in NFL history.

What’s next: The Titans didn’t make the postseason and Folk is set to become a free agent.

Roy Lopez Jr., DT, Arizona Cardinals

Connection to Tucson: Lopez played at the UA and his father, Roy Lopez Sr., was a head coach at Sunnyside High School. Lopez also played at New Mexico State when the Aggies won the Arizona Bowl in 2017.

How he performed: The Gilbert native had 28 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in his second season with the hometown Cardinals.

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What’s next: The Cardinals didn’t make the playoffs for the third straight season. Lopez’s two-year deal with the Cardinals is set to expire.

Tanner McLachlan, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

Connection to Tucson: McLachlan played at the UA

How he performed: The fourth-round pick, who was the most productive Arizona tight end since Rob Gronkowski, didn’t record any stats this season.

What’s next: Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday.

Jordan Morgan, OL, Green Bay Packers

Connection to Tucson: Morgan played at Marana High School and the UA

How he performed: The rookie and 25th overall pick played 196 offensive snaps. Although Morgan only played tackle at the UA, he played 185 snaps at guard — 120 at right guard — for the Packers this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

What’s next: Green Bay plays at Philadelphia in the wildcard round on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on Fox.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Connection to Tucson: Robinson played at Salpointe Catholic

How he performed: The highest-selected Tucsonan in NFL Draft history ended his second season in the NFL with 304 rushing attempts for 1,456 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in addition to 61 receptions for 431 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Robinson, who wasn’t named a Pro Bowler, finished the season third in the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns; his rushing yards were only behind Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry.

What’s next: The Falcons missed out on the playoffs after Tampa Bay’s win on Sunday.

Christian Rolland-Wallace, DB, Kansas City Chiefs

Connection to Tucson: Roland-Wallace played at the UA

How he performed: Roland-Wallace, who finished his collegiate career at USC, has 34 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception as a rookie in the Chiefs’ defensive secondary and special teams.

What’s next: The top-seeded Chiefs have a first-round bye and will host the AFC divisional round on either Jan. 18 or Jan. 19.

J.J. Taylor, RB, Houston Texans

Connection to Tucson: Taylor played at the UA

How he performed: The fifth-year Taylor was promoted from the practice squad in October. Taylor has 10 rushes for 44 yards this season, the most since his rookie season with the New England Patriots in 2020.

What’s next: Houston hosts the Los Angeles Chargers for the wildcard round on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+.

Levi Wallace, DB, Denver Broncos

Connection to Tucson: Wallace played at Tucson High

How he performed: After two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wallace inked a one-year deal with the Broncos. Wallace was primarily a reserve cornerback but started in Week 13 and struggled against Cleveland Browns receiver and former Bronco Jerry Jeudy, who had nine catches for 235 yards and a touchdown against Wallace. The Tucson native was waived by Denver on Christmas Eve. The undrafted Wallace has earned $13.4 million in his NFL career.

What’s next: The Broncos face the Buffalo Bills in New York for the wildcard round on Sunday at 11 a.m. on CBS and Paramount+.