Tag: Badgers in NFL

WATCH: Former Wisconsin QB Jack Coan throws TD in preseason

WATCH: Jack Coan throw’s a late TD pass against the Detroit Lions on Saturday:

On Saturday, down seven with just 44 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Jack Coan connected with Samson Nacua on a 27-yard touchdown strike, getting the Colts within striking distance of the Detroit Lions.

Indianapolis would go for the two-point conversion in an attempt to win the game in regulation but ultimately failed to convert.

Coan, who played with the Badgers from 2017-20, finished the game 7-11, passing for 83 yards and a touchdown.

As it stands, Coan is behind veteran QBs Matt Ryan, Nick Foles, and 2021 sixth-round draft pick Sam Ehlinger, making a bid for a spot on the 53-man roster an uphill battle.

The hope for the undrafted free agent pickup is to play well enough to land on a practice squad where he can continue developing his game.

You can watch Coan’s touchdown pass against Detroit in the video below, courtesy of the NFL’s Twitter account:

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WATCH: Former Wisconsin WR Kendric Pryor’s one-handed grab in his first preseason game

Watch former Wisconsin WR Kendric Pryor make an outstanding one-handed grab for the Bengals in his first preseason game:

Quite a few former Wisconsin football players have played in their first NFL preseason action over the last few days. On Friday night, former Badgers’ wide receiver Kendric Pryor made an outstanding one-handed grab down the sideline in his first game for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Related: WATCH: Former Badgers WR Danny Davis III scores a preseason touchdown

Pryor was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bengals in May and has impressed so far, despite being pretty far down the depth chart. The former Badger finished his first game against the Arizona Cardinals with four receptions for 89 receiving yards and a touchdown.

It is excellent to see Kendric Pryor doing so much with his opportunity at the next level, and hopefully, he can continue to turn heads to earn a spot on the final roster.

WATCH: Former Badgers WR Danny Davis III scores a preseason touchdown

Danny Davis III scores his first TD of the preseason:

On Friday night, former Badgers wide receiver Danny Davis III, who has reportedly had a strong showing in training camp, made his preseason debut for the Green Bay Packers.

Just before halftime, third-year quarterback Jordan Love connected with Davis, an undrafted free agent pickup for the Packers, on a back-shoulder throw, making a nice adjustment for a 33-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline.

With the Packers having a crowded WR room headed towards cutdowns, it’s unlikely that Davis will have a chance to make the initial 53-man roster. Still, he’s making a solid impression on the Packers coaching staff and will likely be a candidate to stay and develop on Green Bay’s practice squad in 2022.

You can watch the former Wisconsin standout’s touchdown against San Fransisco below, courtesy of the Green Bay Packers Twitter account:

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Two Badgers Ranked in PFF’s 50 Best Players in the NFL

The University of Wisconsin was one of just eight programs that featured more than one player in PFF’s top 50:

This past week, Pro Football Focus released a list ranking the top 50 players in the NFL right now. 

The University of Wisconsin was one of just eight programs that featured more than one player in PFF’s top 50. T.J. Watt and Jonathan Taylor, two of the league’s brightest stars, represented UW, who came in at No. 7 and No. 21, respectively.

Watt, a former first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, won the NFL’s AP Defensive Player of the Year award in 2021 after tying Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record (22.5).

Taylor, who now plays for the Indianapolis Colts, was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Year at the 101 awards this past season after totaling 2,171 yards from scrimmage and finding paydirt 20 times. He also posted a league-leading 23 runs of 15 or more yards.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

WATCH: WR Quintez Cephus make an insane grab at Detroit Lions’ practice

Former Wisconsin receiver Quintez Cephus makes an insane grab at Lions’ practice:

Several former Wisconsin Badgers have been making big plays the last few weeks as NFL teams have been going through their offseason activities and practices.

Related: Which NFL teams have the most Badgers on their current roster?

The latest big play came from former Badger and current Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who made an outstanding touchdown grab at the Lions’ practice on Tuesday afternoon. Cephus was able to snag the bullet pass with an impressive one-handed catch over the top of safety Kerby Joseph.

The former Wisconsin receiver only appeared in five games for the Lions last year before suffering a broken collarbone, but he still made a huge impact with over 204 receiving yards and two touchdowns from only 15 receptions.

Former Badgers LB Leo Chenal inks rookie deal with the Kansas City Chiefs

Leo Chenal officially put pen to paper, signing his first NFL deal:

After being selected with the 103rd pick in the 2022 NFL draft last month, former Badgers linebacker Leo Chenal officially signed his rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday. 

Per Spotrac, Chenal’s contract is projected to be worth $5.044 million in total value with an additional $849K signing bonus for the 2022 NFL season. 

A consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection last year for the Badgers, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound LB led Wisconsin with 115 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two forced fumbles.

The Grantsburg, Wisconsin native announced his contract signing via his Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CePfA7fOPN_/

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Former Badgers WR signs with the Washington Commanders

Former Badgers WR signs with the Washington Commanders:

Earlier today, the Washington Commanders formally announced the signing of former Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Alex Erickson.

The former walk-on at Wisconsin is now a seven-year NFL veteran, spending five seasons with the Bengals, one with the Carolina Panthers, and now has found a home in Washington.

Largely seen as a return specialist, Erickson has accumulated 4,007 return yards while also catching 96 passes for 1,141 yards and a touchdown during his NFL career.

The 6-foot, 195-pound WR was named a second-team All-Pro back in 2016 for his work as a return specialist, according to PFF.

Erickson lettered three years at Wisconsin, and finished his collegiate career ranked 10th in school history with 1,877 yards receiving.

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Jonathan Taylor is the youngest player in NFL history to accomplish this feat

The former two-time Doak Walker award winner just made NFL history in his sophomore campaign.

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All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor had an unforgettable sophomore campaign for the Indianapolis Colts in 2021-22.

On top of winning the NFL rushing title, the former Badger became the youngest player in NFL history to record 2,000 yards from scrimmage while also scoring 20 touchdowns.

Related: Jonathan Taylor named AFC offensive player of the year at the 101 awards

The second-year running back finished the season with 2,171 total yards from scrimmage (1,811 rushing, 360 receiving) and exactly 20 touchdowns (18 rushing).

The New Jersey native also became the Indianapolis Colts new single-season rushing record holder this past season, surpassing Edgerrin James record that stood for over two decades.

Taylor’s rushing total (1,811) was good for the 22nd most rushing yards in NFL history for a single season. Now, a piece of Taylor will be on display in Canton in honor of his record-setting 2021-22 season.

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T.J. Watt ties the NFL single-season sack record

Former Badgers outside linebacker, T.J. Watt tied Michael Strahan’s NFL’s single-season sack record on Sunday.

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With 28 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Pittsburgh Steelers’ outside linebacker T.J. Watt beat his man on the edge and sacked Baltimore Raven’s quarterback Tyler Huntley.

With that sack, Watt tied legendary defensive end Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record of 22.5 sacks. That record stood alone for over two decades.

The former Badger accomplished this feat in just 15 games as an edge rusher, which is one less game than it took Strahan to compile the same total back in 2001.

The Pewaukee (Wisc.) native also broke the Pittsburgh Steelers’ single-season sack record this season, formerly held by James Harrison.

It’s been a remarkable season for Watt, who is without a doubt the favorite to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Watt is all the proof you need that recruiting rankings are overrated.

 

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Jonathan Taylor wins the NFL rushing title

Jonathan Taylor is the first Wisconsin Badgers running back to win the NFL rushing title since Alan Ameche did it in 1955.

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It was a historic sophomore campaign for Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor. The two-time Doak Walker award winner can now add another achievement to his lengthy list of career milestones.

The former Badger finished the regular season having carried the ball 332 times for 1,810 rushing yards, as he took home the NFL rushing title in 2021.

Taylor’s rushing total was good for the 22nd most rushing yards in NFL history for a single season.

Taylor became the first Wisconsin Badgers running back to win the NFL rushing title since Alan Ameche in 1955.

The New Jersey native became the Indianapolis Colts new single-season rushing record holder, surpassing Edgerrin James in a record that stood for over two decades.

Taylor also finished with the most fan-votes among all NFL players for this year’s Pro-Bowl.

In total, the former Badger racked up 2,171 total yards from scrimmage across 17 games.

 

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