Tag: badgers in the NFL

Badgers in the NFL: Raiders promote Nick Nelson from practice squad

The Oakland Raiders promoted former Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Nick Nelson from the practice squad on Wednesday.

The Oakland Raiders made a series of roster moves on Wednesday, including promoting former Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Nick Nelson from the practice squad onto the active roster.

Nelson was originally a fourth round pick by the Raiders in 2018. In his rookie season, Nelson appeared in 10 games (starting three) and recording 20 combined tackles, one pass defended and one fumble recovery.

He was waived on August 31 of this year but re-signed to the practice squad and he remained there until his promotion.

The Raiders cut safety DJ Swearinger on Tuesday, opening up a spot for Nelson, although his experience is primarily at cornerback and not safety. It’s unclear if the Raiders plan to use Nelson at a new position, or if he will contribute on the special teams and as depth on the outside.

Nelson spent his first two collegiate seasons at Hawaii before transferring to Wisconsin and starting 14 games in 2017, recording 35 combined tackles and 21 passes defended with the Badgers – which topped the entire NCAA.

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Badgers in the NFL: Russell Wilson is not the fun-bringer for Seahawks

Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson may not be the guy teammates go to to have fun, but his consistency makes him a leader.

Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson is a lot of things: an MVP candidate, an entrepreneur, a celebrity, a professional sports team owner, a podcast host and a very, very rich man.

However, at least according to his coach, Pete Carroll, there’s one thing Wilson isn’t: a funmaker.

Carroll was speaking about Seattle’s team culture, and how much he emphasizes making sure his team – who stand at 10-2 on the season – are still having fun playing the game.

When asked about Wilson’s role in the fun the team has, Carroll said, “Russ isn’t going to like this, but I don’t think of Russ as being like the funmaker. I don’t think of him that way.”

Carroll went on to talk about Wilson’s ultra competitiveness and extreme consistency, traits that have lead him to two Super Bowl wins and multiple Pro Bowl appearances.

Wilson himself didn’t object to his coaches comments.

“I laugh and have fun and have a good time, but that’s not my first priority,” Wilson said. “My first priority is to win. I know that’s coach’s, too. We do it in very similar ways. I think our personalities are very similar. When it comes down to it, what I think is fun is winning. At the end of the day, that’s what he came here for.”

The Seahawks have a chance to clinch a playoff spot on Sunday night against the Rams, and you can bet Wilson will be having fun in that one, regardless of if it shows or not.

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Badgers in the NFL: Melvin Gordon unsure about future with Chargers

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon is set to hit free agency after the season, and is unsure where the future will lead.

The Melvin Gordon saga has wound down in the past few weeks, but the former Wisconsin Badgers running back – now with the Los Angeles Chargers – is still unsure where his future lies in the NFL.

“I don’t know, man,” Gordon told the Los Angeles Times’ Mike DiGiovanna when asked if he had earned the contract he is looking for. “It’s hard to look and say you warrant anything when you’re losing. I just have to do my job. No one knows their situation. It’s the business side of things. I don’t know if I’ll be here or somewhere else. Hopefully, it is here.”

Gordon very publicly held out at the beginning of the 2019 season, hoping for a contract in the $13 million range per year. After fellow Chargers running back Austin Ekeler had a strong start to the year, Gordon eventually returned to avoid his contract tolling, and has racked up 468 rushing yards and four touchdowns in eight games.

Gordon will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and while he wants to stay with Los Angeles, the emergence of Ekeler makes it likely he’ll start the decade with a new NFL team.

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Former Badger Troy Vincent doesn’t make the cut for Hall of Fame

Former Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Troy Vincent did not make the Hall of Fame Modern-Era committee’s top 25 semifinalists this year.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Modern-Era ballot was cut from 122 initial candidates down to just 25 on Tuesday, and former Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Troy Vincent was among the 97 players who didn’t make the cut.

Here is a look at the 25 players who did make the cut, including safety Troy Polamalu, linebacker Patrick Willis and safety John Lynch.

Vincent played 14 seasons in the NFL from 1992-2006, after starring at Wisconsin for four years from 1988-1991.

Vincent was named to five straight Pro Bowls from 1999-2003, and was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2002. He was a ball-hawking cornerback who led the league in interceptions in 1999 and passes defended in 2001.

Vincent starred at Wisconsin before getting drafted seventh overall by the Dolphins in the 1992 NFL draft. He was named the BIG-10 defensive player of the year in 1991, and also excelled as a punt returner while with the Badgers.

However, he’ll have to wait until next year to see if he can make it to the next round of voting and, eventually, into the Hall of Fame.

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Badgers in the NFL: Russell Wilson sets NFL record in Week 12 win

Former Wisconsin Badger Russell Wilson is the only quarterback in history to post a winning record in each of his first eight NFL seasons.

Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson continued his elite season with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 17-9, to move to 9-2 on the season.

The nine wins are crucial for Wilson, as it officially means he will have a winning season in 2019 – even if they lose the rest of their games.

Wilson has now officially led the Seahawks to a winning season in each of his first eight NFL seasons – and he became the first quarterback in NFL history to do so.

Most elite quarterbacks are early round picks, often on bad teams, which makes it difficult to accomplish such a feat. The Seahawks snagged Wilson late in the third round however, perhaps the greatest draft pick in franchise history.

Wilson has solidified himself as a legitimate MVP candidate this season, and while his performance against the Eagles was forgettable he is still boasting a 24-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio.

Wilson starred with the Badgers for one season in 2011, completing nearly 73 percent of his passes along with a ridiculous 33-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

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Badgers in the NFL: JJ Watt reveals phone number and texts with fans

Former Wisconsin Badgers defensive end JJ Watt posted his phone number on Instagram, and has responded to hundreds of texts from fans.

If there’s ever been anything you wanted to say directly to Wisconsin Badgers legend JJ Watt, now is your chance.

The future Hall of Fame defensive end, now with the Houston Texans, is using his extra free time after going on the injured reserve to connect with his fans in an even more direct way than his usual strong presence on social media.

View this post on Instagram

text me. 262.404.3664

A post shared by JJ Watt (@jjwatt) on

That’s right, Watt posted his phone number and allowed fans to reach out to him directly. He admitted he was looking for better ways to connect with his fans, and wanted to try out direct texting.

Watt said he received over 25,000 texts, and while he did take the time to respond to hundreds of them, don’t be surprised if your text goes unanswered while the Pro Bowler navigates his sea of fans over the next few weeks.

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Sojourn Shelton added to Arizona Cardinals practice squad

The Arizona Cardinals signed former Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton to their practice squad ahead of their Week 11 matchup.

The Arizona Cardinals have brought back former Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Sojourn Shelton, signing him to their practice squad.

Shelton was originally signed by Arizona after going undrafted in 2017, but was released before the season started. He ended up spending his entire first season on the Bengals practice squad.

He caught on with the Eagles in August but was cut at the end of the preseason, and the 24-year-old has remained a free agent until now.

Shelton will provide the Cardinals with added depth at the cornerback positions, and could sneak onto the team as a special teams contributor as well.

Shelton had a very solid career at Wisconsin, playing with the Badgers from 2013-2016 and racking up 129 total tackles, nine interceptions and 30 passes defended, which ranks sixth in the BIG-10 since 2005.

However, his lack of size (five-foot-nine, 168 pounds) has limited him to precious few opportunities in the NFL. He’ll have to really fight to earn his way onto Arizona’s roster before the season is up.

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Badgers in the NFL: Andrew Van Ginkel returns to practice

Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel has been designated to return to practice by the Miami Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins designated former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel to return to practice following a 10-week stint on the injured reserve.

Van Ginkel was placed on the injured reserve on September 6, and will be eligible to make his NFL debut on December 1 when the Dolphins take on the Eagles.

Van Ginkel was a fifth-round pick by the Dolphins in 2019 after two successful seasons at Wisconsin. The Iowa Western CC transfer was a third-team All-BIG 10 selection in his senior year with the Badgers, recording 59 combined tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three passes defended and two forced fumbles.

Van Ginkel’s designation to return to practice is a good sign that he will be a factor for Miami down the stretch, as the team had multiple players eligible to return this season, but they made him one of just two chosen to return.

However, while he is expected to compete for a role as a core special teamer for the Dolphins, he is unlikely to carve out a role on the defense until 2020 at the earliest.

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