Tag: 2024 nfl preview

Former Wisconsin offensive tackle to miss entire 2024 NFL season

Former Wisconsin offensive tackle may miss entire 2024 NFL season

The New Orleans Saints placed former Wisconsin Badgers offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday. That roster move ensures the star tackle will miss the entire 2024 NFL season due to an ongoing knee injury.

The fear regarding Ramczyk’s status was first shared by Saints head coach Dennis Allen back in March. It was confirmed by the team’s roster move on Thursday, on the eve of training camp for the 2024 NFL season.

Related: Reasons why Wisconsin football will or won’t make College Football Playoff in 2024

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport clarified why Ramczyk’s early move to the PUP list means that he will miss the entire season, noting that “a vested veteran placed on Reserve/PUP prior to the final roster reduction is out for the season. Players placed on Reserve/PUP at the final roster reduction will miss at least 4 games.”

Ramczyk is entering his eighth NFL season after the Saints selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. All he’s done in that time is turn into one of the league’s best offensive tackles, earning one First-Team (2019) and two Second-Team (2018, 2020) All-Pro selections. 2024 will be the third year of a five-year, $96 million contract that he signed after his initial rookie contract.

The veteran has been hampered by injuries over the last few seasons. He missed six games in 2021 and five in 2023. The 2023 injury is what is still affecting his ability to play, as his current status is due to complications from offseason surgery to address that knee injury.

 

Ramczyk played for Wisconsin from 2015-2016 after transferring from UW-Stevens Point. He was a late bloomer in college but since became one of the better at his position in the sport.

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Former Wisconsin Badger one of PFF’s top-tier fantasy RBs for 2024 NFL season

Former Wisconsin Badger one of PFF’s top-tier fantasy RBs for 2024 NFL season

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is among ProFootballFocus’ tier-one fantasy football running backs entering 2024.

Taylor is listed at No. 5 overall, behind only San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, New York Jets RB Breece Hall, Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson and Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs.

Related: Big Ten Football Power Index Rankings for 2024: Which teams are underrated, overrated?

The college football legend rushed for 741 yards and 7 touchdowns on 169 carries in only 10 games of action in 2023. He is still looking to maintain health throughout a season and recapture his 2021 form that saw a 1,811-yard, 18-touchdown breakthrough.

Health is the only variable for Taylor. Otherwise, he’s arguably the NFL’s second-best running back behind McCaffrey.

Here’s what PFF said about the former Badger entering 2024:

Jonathan Taylor missed a chunk of time last season, appearing in just nine games during the fantasy season. When active, he still managed almost 18 opportunities (carries plus targets) per game and delivered 0.38 PPR points per snap. Taylor is locked in as the Colts’ workhorse running back this season, and while his primary competition for runs will be his quarterback, he should still bounce back to his 2021 form with a full season under his belt.

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Wisconsin legend named a bounce-back candidate entering 2024 by PFF

Expecting a big year from Jonathan Taylor in 2024?

Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor was named a bounce-back candidate entering the 2024 NFL season by Pro Football Focus.

Taylor played 10 of the possible 17 games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 and recorded 741 yards and seven touchdowns on 169 carries. A preseason contract dispute and offseason surgery led to a late start to the campaign. A Week 12 thumb injury sidelined him for nearly a month.

Related: Where every member of Wisconsin’s record-breaking recruiting class of 2021 is now

The Wisconsin legend remains one of the best and most talented running backs in the league. With health, he’s proven to put up league-leading numbers. Availability has become the main question surrounding his career.

Taylor is looking to return to the 2021 form that produced 1,811 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 332 carries. That effort in only his second NFL season earned him Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. But the running back has played in 21 of 34 possible games for the Colts since the 2022 season began. He’ll need to stay on the field to make a bounce-back year a possibility.

Here’s what PFF wrote about the Wisconsin legend:

Taylor was one of the NFL’s better running backs in his first two years, but injuries halted his production in the latter two. In 2023, he dealt with the effects of ankle surgery, not playing until Week 5, plus tore a ligament in his thumb.

In addition to potentially better health, Taylor is trending up for at least two other big reasons. For one, with Zack Moss heading to Cincinnati, Taylor should earn even more carries amid unproven depth behind him. Oh, and Taylor finally doesn’t have a contract dispute serving as the elephant in the room. The point is, don’t be shocked if Taylor has a huge 2024.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

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