One of the best storylines of the 2022 Super Bowl

Los Angeles Rams security Eric Weddle warms up earlier than wild-card sport in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. Weddle, together with two different former Utes, will probably be making an attempt to deliver house a Tremendous Bowl title to town of Los Angeles.

Kyusung Gong, Related Press

This text was first printed within the Ute Insiders publication. Join to obtain the publication in your inbox every Wednesday evening.

Former Utah star Eric Weddle is among the finest storylines of the upcoming Tremendous Bowl when the Los Angeles Rams face the Cincinnati Bengals on Feb. 13.

Weddle, 37, just lately got here out of retirement to play for the Rams throughout their playoff run. And Weddle hasn’t simply performed — he led the crew with 9 tackles Sunday in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers.

One of many former All-Professional security’s stops got here on a second-and-1 play close to midfield that helped finish a San Francisco drive within the fourth quarter. Los Angeles got here again from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the 49ers 20-17.

In the meantime, former Utes kicker Matt Homosexual booted the game-winning 30-yard area objective with 1:49 remaining. He additionally drilled a 40-yarder earlier within the fourth quarter.

One other former Ute, Terrell Burgess, additionally performs particular groups and protection for the Rams, making three complete gamers from Utah’s program that can take part within the Tremendous Bowl.

For Weddle, that is all sudden.

“It’s loopy,” Weddle informed Deseret New columnist Doug Robinson final week. “You'll be able to’t make this up. All of the issues which have aligned. I’m simply taking it and operating with it.”

Numbers sport

10: Variety of video games the Utah basketball crew has misplaced in a row underneath first-year coach Craig Smith. It’s the longest skid in program historical past.

10: Senior Maile O’Keefe’s rating on the steadiness beam, the second good routine of her Utah profession.

197.675: Rating put up by the No. 2 Crimson Rocks, the best by any crew within the nation this 12 months, in a win over No. 19 Stanford.

From the archives

Additional factors

• Utah basketball suspends Dusan Mahorcic forward of Washington sport (Deseret Information)
• Runnin’ Utes’ program-record tenth straight loss, to UW in double additional time, is probably the most heartbreaking of all of them (Deseret Information)
• ‘I've at all times wished to be a Runnin’ Ute’: Why Cache Valley’s Jaxon Brenchley remained a Utah Man (Deseret Information)

Fanalyst

“Weddle is a complete freak of nature. This was apparent when he was at Utah, and he had an ideal professional profession. However coming again like this on the finish of a season after two years off and enjoying at a excessive degree for 60+ performs in a playoff sport in opposition to a potent offense? In his second week again? That is one other degree man.”

— kea1593

“Eric Weddle .... solely a 2 star popping out of highschool and a bit participant at Utah till City arrived, if I keep in mind appropriately. You need to respect what he has achieved each at Utah and within the NFL, it doesn't matter what crew you root for. I haven’t been a Rams fan for the reason that Fearsome Foursome, however would like to see a person of this caliber popping out of retirement, enjoying an ideal sport and getting a hoop. It could be a fairytale ending to an ideal story.”

— periloustimes

Up subsequent

Feb. 3 | 7 p.m. | Males’s basketball | vs. Oregon State | @Salt Lake Metropolis | ESPNU

Feb. 4 | 8 p.m. | Gymnastics | vs. UCLA | @Los Angeles | ESPN2

Feb. 4 | 7 p.m. | Ladies’s basketball | vs. Washington | @Salt Lake Metropolis | Pac-12 Community

Feb. 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Males’s basketball | vs. Oregon | @Salt Lake Metropolis | FS1

Feb. 6 | Midday | Ladies’s basketball | vs. Washington State | @Salt Lake Metropolis | Pac-12 Community