Tag: badgers in the NFL

How to watch former Wisconsin Badgers in NFL conference championships

How to watch former Wisconsin Badgers in NFL conference championships

Five former Wisconsin Badgers will suit up this weekend in the NFL conference championship round.

There is at least one Wisconsin product on each of the four remaining teams, ensuring that a former Badger will hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the fourth consecutive season (Rob Havenstein in 2021, Leo Chenal in 2022-23).

In the NFC, the No. 2-seed Philadelphia Eagles (Zack Baun) will host the No. 6-seed Washington Commanders (Tyler Biadasz, Michael Deiter). Washington shocked the sport with a road win over No. 1-seed Detroit on Saturday, while Philadelphia outlasted the No. 4-seed Los Angeles Rams.

In the AFC, the No. 1-seed Kansas City Chiefs (Leo Chenal) made the consecutive conference championship game for the seventh consecutive season. They will host the No. 2-seed Buffalo Bills (David Edwards), who snuck past the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.

Each of those five former Badgers, by no surprise, play offensive line and linebacker. Here is how to watch them in action this weekend:

Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Kick time: Sunday, Jan. 26, 3 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. CT

TV channel: Fox

Players to watch:

  • Commanders: C Tyler Biadasz, OL Michael Deiter
  • Eagles: LB Zack Baun

Baun excelled in the Eagles’ win over the Rams, totaling six tackles, one run stuff, one fumble recovery and one pass deflection. He’ll lead the heavily-favored Eagles against rookie QB Jayden Daniels and the Commanders. Former Badger and longtime Dallas Cowboy Tyler Biadasz will start at center for Washington.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Commanders vs Eagles live on Fubo” link=”https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191261?irad=399332&irmp=1205322&subId1=SMG&subId2=NCAAF&subId3=2024″]

Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Kick time: Sunday, Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. CT

TV channel: CBS

Players to watch:

  • Bills: G David Edwards
  • Chiefs: LB Leo Chenal

Chenal tallied four tackles and an important field-goal block in the Chiefs’ divisional round win over the Houston Texans. It’s his third NFL season and he’s already looking for his third Super Bowl title.

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LOOK: Former Wisconsin star Braelon Allen reacts to New York Jets head coach hire

LOOK: Former Wisconsin star Braelon Allen reacts to New York Jets head coach hire

It’s safe to say that former Wisconsin star running back Braelon Allen is excited about the New York Jets’ recent head coaching hire.

The Jets, who finished the 2024 season at 5-12, filled their head coaching vacancy by hiring former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn on Wednesday. The move arrives over three months after Jets brass elected to fire head coach Robert Saleh in early October.

Allen, who saw internal chaos define the Jets’ season, kept his head down during his rookie campaign in New York. He rushed for 334 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games. He and the rest of the team now receive some stability with Glenn’s leadership and personality.

Here’s Allen’s reaction to Glenn’s new responsibility on the Jets’ sidelines:

Glenn flashed his football intelligence throughout his entire Lions tenure. From 2021-2024, a once lowly franchise witnessed its defensive unit gradually improve as it collected quality playmakers including Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph.

In 2024, Glenn’s unit allowed the lowest passer rating (82.0) by any defense in the league. It did so as a total of 16 contributors spent time on the injured reserve,

Glenn now returns to a franchise he represented for eight seasons as a cornerback from 1994-2001. He played 15 total years in NFL before kickstarting his coaching career with the Cleveland Browns in 2014.

Glenn also interviewed with the Jaguars, Raiders and Bears before agreeing to the role with New York. He takes over a team currently led by top players Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Devante Adams and Aaron Rodgers.

Colin Cowherd goes viral for trade proposal involving a Wisconsin Badger legend

Agree with Colin Cowherd’s trade proposal?

Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd put himself in the role of NFL general manager during Thursday’s edition of his national sports talk show, “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.”

He proposed a solution for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ current situation. That situation, specifically, is the team’s six consecutive playoff losses and eight overall seasons without a playoff win.

Related: Recapping Wisconsin football’s winter transfer portal movement

The Steelers, as Wisconsin football fans should know, are led by former Badger quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker T.J. Watt. Their defensive line features tackles Isaiahh Loudermilk and Keeanu Benton, plus linebacker Nick Herbig. Any initiative taken to improve the team after years of playoff failures will likely include one or several of those players.

Cowherd’s proposal involves several of them. He proposed the following trade, the video explanation of which is up to 1.2 million views on X:

Steelers trade T.J. Watt, George Pickens and two first-round picks to a team at the top of the draft to select Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.

“The Steelers have been putting band-aids on for six years,” Cowherd explains. “I think they have to rip it off. I would trade T.J. Watt, George Pickens and two first-round picks if your scouting department said, ‘Shedeur Sanders is the guy.'”

Here’s his full explanation:

This trade discussion is rooted in the team’s average and sub-par quarterback play since Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2021. It drafted Kenny Pickett in 2022, went 9-8 and 10-7 in his two seasons under center, and then went 10-7 again in 2024 with Wilson and Justin Fields splitting the duties.

Wilson gave the team an initial boost when he took over in late October, winning six of his first seven games. He and the Steelers then dropped four straight to close the season before a 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round.

Cowherd’s contention is that new life is necessary under center, and Sanders is arguably the best quarterback in the draft.

The price of Watt, Pickens and multiple picks is steep, however.

Watt is among the top pass-rushers in the sport. Although he just eclipsed 30 years old, he has amassed 30 1/2 sacks and 38 tackles for loss over the last two seasons combined. There’s been no sign his game is slipping. Pickens, meanwhile, just led the team with 900 receiving yards.

“I think you have to go take the next big swing on this thing,” Cowherd continued. “If you want to find the next Big Ben … To me, there’s three teams in the league that are a quarterback away, the Colts, the Seahawks and the Steelers. If you got the right quarterback, they’re pretty interesting teams. But there’s no recent history to make me believe that Pittsburgh would get aggressive.”

The proposed trade certainly falls into the aggressive category. For our purposes, it would nearly eliminate our near-weekly update on the Steelers’ performance.

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These former Wisconsin football players will play in NFL playoffs divisional round

These former Wisconsin football players will play in NFL playoffs Divisional Round

Twelve former Wisconsin Badgers advanced to the 2024 NFL playoffs. Only eight remain alive after Wild Card Weekend.

That first weekend saw several notable stories develop, including the Houston Texans surprise with a blowout win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Philadelphia Eagles handle a dangerous Green Bay Packers team and the Washington Commanders defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a last-second field goal.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ lopsided loss to the Baltimore Ravens also matters for these purposes. Several former Badgers were quiet in the loss. T.J. Watt (zero statistics recorded) leads that headline.

With those results in the books, the NFL divisional round schedule is as follows:

  • Texans at Chiefs (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday)
  • Commanders at Lions (8 p.m. ET Saturday)
  • Rams at Eagles (3 p.m. ET Sunday)
  • Ravens at Bills (6:30 p.m. ET Sunday)

Here are those eight former Badgers who will be in action this weekend:

Regular Season Stats: 30 carries, 112 rushing yards, 19 receptions, 28 receiving yards, one touchdown

Wild Card Stats: One carry, five rushing yards, one special teams tackle

Ogunbowale is the Texans’ third-string running back at this stage of the season. He still sees a few touches per game, depending on the play of starter Joe Mixon and backup Dameon Pierce. The former Badger is arguably the team’s top special teams player. He still impacts the game, even if he doesn’t touch the ball.

Regular Season Stats: 60 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, three forced fumbles, three pass deflections

Wild Card Stats: N/A (bye)

Chenal and the Chiefs look for their third straight Super Bowl starting with a home game against Houston. Chenal’s numbers dipped after a strong 2023 campaign. He still remains one of the team’s more important defensive players.

Regular Season Stats: 16 starts at right guard

Wild Card Stats: N/A (bye)

Zeitler’s improbable longevity continues into the 2024 playoffs. The former Badger entered the NFL in 2012 with the Bengals. He’s played in 198 total regular season games in that time, plus seven playoff matchups. His teams are just 1-6 in the postseason — that one win coming with the Ravens last season.

Regular Season Stats: 15 starts at center

Wild Card Stats: Started at center

Biadasz has been an underrated terrific pickup for Washington. He brought much-needed stability to its offensive line, which has led to an all-time rookie season from QB Jayden Daniels.

The Commanders defeated the Buccaneers on a last-season field goal last weekend. They’ll look to continue a miracle run on the road at Detroit.

Regular Season Stats: Two starts

Wild Card Stats: N/A (did not play)

Deiter did not play in Washington’s win over Tampa Bay. He’s the Commanders’ primary backup center behind Biadasz. The veteran started 10 games for the Texans in 2023 and 15 for the Dolphins as a rookie in 2019. Otherwise, he’s spent most of his career as a primary backup.

Regular Season Stats: 151 tackles, 11 1/2 tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, five quarterback hits, four pass deflections, five forced fumbles, one interception

Wild Card Stats: Eight tackles, four solo tackles, one pass deflection, one interception

Baun’s out-of-nowhere amazing season continued in the Eagles’ win over the Packers. He tallied eight tackles, intercepted Jordan Love and deflected a pass. His performance led a defensive unit that allowed just 10 total points to a strong Packers offense.

Regular Season Stats: 11 starts at right tackle

Wild Card Stats: Started at right tackle

Havenstein has been a mainstay on the Rams’ defensive line for the last decade — his first year was when they were still the ‘St. Louis Rams.’ The former Badger helped lead the team to a lopsided victory over the Vikings on Monday night. They now travel to Philadelphia for a Divisional Round matchup.

Regular Season Stats: 16 starts at left guard

Wild Card Stats: Started at left guard

Edwards blocked for a Bills offense that scored 31 points on a strong Broncos defense. The team and MVP favorite Josh Allen now host the Baltimore Ravens in arguably the game of the weekend.

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Former Wisconsin Badgers quiet in Steelers playoff loss to Ravens

Former Wisconsin Badgers quiet in Steelers playoff loss to Ravens

Several former Wisconsin Badgers were nowhere to be seen on Saturday night as the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Baltimore Ravens 28-14 in the Wild Card round.

Quarterback Russell Wilson did deliver a respectable performance leading the Steelers’ offense, finishing with 270 passing yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. But otherwise, the group of former Badgers on the Steelers’ defense struggled to impact the game.

Related: Tracking former Wisconsin Badgers in 2025 NFL playoff Wild Card Weekend

The most notable stat line is T.J. Watt’s — zero tackles, zero sacks and zero pass deflections. He failed to register a single statistic as the Ravens totaled 464 yards of offense including a franchise record 299 rushing yards.

Watt hasn’t registered a sack since he suffered an ankle injury in the Steelers’ Dec. 15 loss to the Eagles. He’s played in four games since that date, tallying seven total tackles, one run stuff and one pass deflection. His lack of effectiveness rushing the quarterback was a big part of the Ravens’ ability to control the game.

Linebacker Nick Herbig had a similar outing, failing to record a single tackle. Other notable former Badgers on the Steelers’ defense are Isaiahh Loudermilk (three total tackles, two solo) and Keeanu Benton (four total tackles, two solo).

In all, those four defensive linemen combined for seven total tackles (four solo), zero tackles for loss and zero sacks.

Saturday’s result is the Steelers’ fifth consecutive playoff loss dating back to 2017. The Ravens with the victory move on to face the Texans or the Broncos, pending Sunday’s results.

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

Los Angeles Rams waive former Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman

Los Angeles Rams waive former Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman

The Los Angeles Rams waived former Wisconsin offensive lineman Logan Bruss on Monday. The move was made as the Rams altered their roster before their Week 10 game against the Miami Dolphins.

Bruss was a third-round pick by the team back in the 2022 NFL draft. He appeared in just eight games from 2022-24, all of which were during the first half of the 2024 season.

Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger on an NFL 53-man roster entering 2024 ranked by career earnings

The former Badger’s Rams career hit a significant roadblock when he tore his ACL and MCL during the team’s second preseason game before the 2022 season. He then spent all of last season on the practice squad before making the roster in 2024.

Bruss started three games at left guard for the Rams this season before being benched for rookie Justin Dedich. His roster spot was then eliminated with the Rams activating starting linemen Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila off injured reserve.

Bruss played five years for the Badgers (2017-21). That career included 41 games and 34 starts (25 at right tackle, six at right guard). It was capped off by All-Big Ten second team honors during the 2021 season, blocking for program-great RB Braelon Allen.

The former Badger will now look for a new NFL home as he continues his professional career.

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Former Wisconsin Badger signs to Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad

Former Wisconsin Badger signs to Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad

Former Wisconsin long-snapper Peter Bowden signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad on Tuesday.

The former Badger previously spent the offseason with the Green Bay Packers after signing as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft. He was eventually released in late August after losing the battle for the starting long-snapper position.

Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger on an NFL 53-man roster entering 2024 ranked by career earnings

Just a few months later, the Wisconsin product now has another shot in the league.

Bowden previously started 39 games at long-snapper for the Badgers from 2021-23. His college career was highlighted by being named a finalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award (for the nation’s best long-snapper) in 2023.

He is now one of seven former Badgers on NFL practice squads, joining Quintez Cephus (Los Angeles Rams), Matt Henningsen (Denver Broncos), Faion Hicks (Seattle Seahawks), Tanner Mordecai (San Francisco 49ers), Kendric Pryor (Cincinnati Bengals) and Hayden Rucci (Miami Dolphins).

Bowden will now await a promotion to the active roster with Ross Matiscik established as the Jaguars’ starting long-snapper. The team is currently 2-7 after a recent loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, tied with six others for the worst record in the NFL.

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Former Wisconsin running back leads 49ers to victory over Cowboys on ‘Sunday Night Football’

Former Wisconsin running back scores first NFL touchdown on “Sunday Night Football”

Former Wisconsin running back Isaac Guerendo scored the first touchdown of his NFL career in the San Francisco 49ers’ 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

The former Badger took a hand off from 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy from the 4-yard line and plunged in for the score. His touchdown was the first of three third-quarter touchdowns by the 49ers. It put the team up 13-10 — a lead it did not relinquish.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 9: Penn State makes a statement

Guerendo finished the evening with a team-high 14 carries, 85 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, plus three receptions for 17 receiving yards.

Here is his touchdown:

The former Badger’s role has steadily increased since joining the team as a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He has become the team’s primary option at the position with star Christian McCaffrey out with an injury.

His evening against Dallas could have looked even better in the stat sheet. Instead of adding another touchdown in the game’s closing moments, Guerendo smartly slid to end the game.

Guerendo played for five years at Wisconsin (2018-2022) before transferring to Louisville for the 2023 season. He was never able to win the full-time starting job with the Badgers thanks to recurring injuries and the emergence of Braelon Allen in 2021.

The speedster’s best college output was, by far, his 810-yard, 11-touchdown 2023 season with Louisville. Otherwise, he totaled 99 carries, 582 yards and six touchdowns in his years with the Badgers.

Guerendo is up to 37 carries, 227 yards and one touchdown in his rookie NFL season. He and the 49ers will be back on the field on Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay.

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Cleveland Browns release former Wisconsin cornerback

Cleveland Browns release former Wisconsin cornerback

The Cleveland Browns released former Wisconsin cornerback Faion Hicks on Monday. The move came as the Browns worked to trim their roster to the required 53 to enter the 2024 season.

Hicks had signed with the Browns at the start of August after spending the first two seasons of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints.

Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger to make an NFL 53-man roster entering 2024 regular season

The former Badger cornerback was a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft by the Broncos. He spent most of 2022 on the team’s practice squad, appearing in two games. He saw his only action on special teams.

The Broncos released Hicks entering the 2023 season, which led the cornerback to sign with the New Orleans Saints in September. He spent 2023 on the Saints practice squad before he was released this offseason.

Hicks saw limited action this preseason after signing with the Browns on Aug. 4. He played 57% of the team’s defensive snaps in its preseason Week 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a sign he was a long shot to make the active roster.

The former Badger could again be a practice squad candidate once waivers clear.

Hicks is still in search of a steady NFL landing spot after playing for four years at Wisconsin (2018-2021). He and Caesar Williams formed the Badgers lock-down cornerback duo on the program’s record-setting 2021 defense. That year was Hicks’ best as a Badger. He recorded 28 tackles and a career-high 10 pass deflections.

The former Badger now waits to clear waivers before he can sign on to a practice squad for the third consecutive season.

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Detroit Lions release former Wisconsin cornerback

His tenure with the Detroit Lions lasted only six days

The Detroit Lions released former Wisconsin cornerback Rachad Wildgoose on Monday. Wildgoose was one of the Lions’ Monday roster cuts as the team worked to trim its roster to 53 players by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

The former Badger had just signed with the Lions on Aug. 21, less than one week earlier.

Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger to make an NFL 53-man roster entering 2024 regular season

Wildgoose is still in search of a consistent NFL home after originally joining the league as a sixth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 NFL draft.

He failed to make the Bills roster in 2021, spending much of the year on team’s the practice squad. The cornerback was then signed to the New York Jets active roster on Nov. 16, 2021, where he played five games and totaled three tackles.

Wildgoose’s winding NFL career then took a stop in Washington. He played 15 games for the Commanders in 2022, starting three games and tallying 16 total tackles. He was later released entering the 2023 season.

The former Badger did not play professional football again until July, 2024 when he signed with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. He quickly jumped up to the NFL with the Lions on Aug. 21, though was then released earlier this week.

Wildgoose played for three years at Wisconsin (2018-2020). He was a standout on the 2019 defense, totaling 22 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception and six pass deflections. He then suffered an injury early during the 2020 season and later declared for the upcoming NFL draft.

The former Badger is in the midst of an NFL comeback attempt. That quest will need to begin on a team’s practice squad.

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