Faion Hicks – Syndication Server

Former Wisconsin cornerback thinks a Badgers loss to Minnesota would be ‘lowest of the lows’

Former Wisconsin cornerback thinks a loss to Minnesota would be ‘lowest of the lows’

Former Wisconsin cornerback Faion Hicks shared a blunt message before the Badgers’ season-closing contest against Minnesota on Friday.

“I’ve been positive all year,” Hicks wrote on X. “But if we finish the year trophy-less and miss a bowl game for the first time in 22+ years. This will be the lowest of the lows. This is a MUST win game.”

Hicks, who last played with the Badgers in 2021, shared the message two days after UW lost in Nebraska for the first time since 2012. He was one of the many former Badgers to express their displeasure with the state of the program after the historic loss.

The former top cornerback isn’t necessarily wrong. The last time Wisconsin’s program finished with a losing record was 2001, the same season the Badgers last missed out on bowl season. As it stands, UW is truly in a must-win scenario ahead of its highly anticipated rivalry matchup against Minnesota.

I’ve been positive all year. But if we finish the year trophy-less and miss a bowl game for the first time in 22+ years. This will be the lowest of the lows. This is a MUST win game.

— Faion Hicks (@Faion_Hicks) November 25, 2024

Given the momentum surrounding Wisconsin’s program, a win is absolutely essential to save the season and provide fans with a glimpse of hope.

In Madison, Hicks appeared in 44 games over four seasons with 39 starts from 2018-21, pocketing All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2020 and 2021. He went 2-2 against the Golden Gophers from 2018-21.

The former Badger joined the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad in September and has appeared in two games this season.

Seahawks officially activate S Jerrick Reed II from injured reserve

The Seattle Seahawks have made a trio of roster moves on Saturday ahead of their Week 8 showdown with the Buffalo Bills. Making his debut this season will be safety Jerrick Reed II, who began the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Reed recently returned to practice last week, and will look to get his first action of the year on Sunday.

Reed had a 21 day window to make the active 53-man roster once returning from the PUP list. If he had missed this opportunity, he would have been shut down for the season. Fortunately, that is a scenario we won’t have to discuss.

Originally a sixth-round selection by the Seahawks during the 2023 NFL draft, Reed played in 10 games before tearing his ACL, prematurely ending his rookie campaign.

Seattle made other transactions as well on Saturday, elevating cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Faion Hicks to the active roster. Both Hicks and Jobe played last week against the Atlanta Falcons. Jobe played well, recording six tackles and defending two passes. Hicks logged a tackle as well.

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3 ex-Broncos draft picks now play for the Seahawks

Three former Broncos — DE Dre’Mont Jones, TE Noah Fant and CB Faion Hicks — now play for the Seahawks, Denver’s Week 1 opponent.

When the Denver Broncos go on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1, they will recognize three familiar faces.

Seattle has two ex-Denver players on its active roster — tight end Noah Fant on offense and defensive end Dre’Mont Jones on defense.

The Seahawks acquired Fant from the Broncos as part of the Russell Wilson trade in 2022. The two other players Denver sent to Seattle — quarterback Drew Lock and defensive lineman Shelby Harris — now play for the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, respectively.

Jones signed with the Seahawks in 2023 after his rookie contract with the Broncos expired. He totaled 49 tackles and 4.5 sacks last fall. Fant has hauled in 82 receptions for 900 yards and four touchdowns over the last two seasons.

A third ex-Denver player, cornerback Faion Hicks, is on Seattle’s practice squad. A former Broncos seventh-round draft pick in 2022, Hicks joined the Seahawks’ practice squad after roster cuts last month.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on select CBS networks.

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Seattle Seahawks sign former Wisconsin cornerback to practice squad

The Seattle Seahawks signed former Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Faion Hicks to their practice squad on Friday.

The move arrived a few days after the Cleveland Browns released the UW alumnus to finalize their 53-man roster ahead of the 2024 season. Tyus Bowser, a veteran outside linebacker who spent all seven of his NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, also signed to Seattle’s 17-man practice squad last week.

Following his collegiate tenure in Madison, Hicks was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. He appeared in two games for the Broncos in 2022, spending most of the season on the practice squad.

Denver released Hicks prior to the 2023 season, and he signed with the Saints in Sept. 2023. There, he played on the practice squad for the season before being released once more ahead of the offseason.

https://twitter.com/seahawksPR/status/1829565942873072123

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.

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.

#Browns waived:
G Wyatt Davis
K Lucas Havrisik
CB Faion Hicks
LB Landon Honeycutt
LB Caleb Johnson
G Zack Johnson
DE Jeremiah Martin
T Roy Mbaeteka
LB Marvin Moody
T Chim Okorafor
RB Aidan Robbins
RB Jacob Saylors
LS Rex Sunahara
DE Isaiah Thomas
S Chase Williams (injury desig.)

— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) August 26, 2024

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.

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

Saints waive backup cornerback Faion Hicks after minicamp

The New Orleans Saints waived backup cornerback Faion Hicks after minicamp, opening a spot on their offseason 91-man roster:

The New Orleans Saints waived backup cornerback Faion Hicks after minicamp, per Saints News Network’s John Hendrix, opening a spot on their offseason 90-man roster. Really it’s a 91-man roster with rookie kicker Charlie Smyth receiving an exemption as part of the NFL’s International Player Program, but the point is that the Saints now have room for one more.

Hicks joined the Saints’ practice squad last September after being drafted by the Denver Broncos out of Wisconsin back in 2022; he wasn’t part of Sean Payton’s plans for fixing Denver’s defense, so he was let go during final roster cuts. He had some good moments in spring practices but missed time with a recent hamstring injury.

He was looking to compete for a spot on the practice squad again this summer with the Saints already rostering the cornerbacks they’re likely to carry into the season. Their typical pattern under Dennis Allen has been to roster four corners, who are all active when healthy, while stashing two or three backups on the practice squad. It’s possible Hicks could return after healing up but right now the Saints have a good mix competing for those spots in Rejzohn Wright and Shemar Jean-Charles (who, like Hicks, were on their practice squad last year) as well as undrafted rookie Rico Payton.

So what’s the plan for that final roster spot? The Saints could simply be looking to sign a free agent who tried out at minicamp, but this combined with their recent Taysom Hill restructure may hint at a bigger move. There’s plenty of time to shop for upgrades before training camp kicks off on July 24, so stay tuned.

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Broncos CB Faion Hicks posts bond after arrest in Florida

Faion Hicks was cited for three offenses, including carrying a concealed firearm without a permit in FL. He posted bond and was released.

Denver Broncos cornerback Faion Hicks was arrested in Florida on Saturday, according to Morgan Whitley of KDVR. Hicks has since posted bond and has been released.

Hicks, 25, was pulled over near Hallandale Beach after “disobeying a stop sign,” according to police. In addition to the traffic violation, Hicks was also cited for having an expired driver’s license and for “carrying a concealed firearm without a permit.”

The most notable of those offenses was the concealed weapon without a permit, which is a third-degree felony.

Hicks was selected by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Wisconsin. He spent most of last season on Denver’s practice squad, appearing in two games last year. Hicks played 30 snaps on special teams in those two contests.

After his rookie season, Hicks signed a reserve/future contract with the Broncos and then returned to Florida, where he grew up. He is currently under contract for the 2023 season.

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Grading the Broncos’ 2022 draft class one year later

Do you agree with our early grade for the Broncos’ 2022 draft class?

As the 2023 NFL draft looms on the horizon, Broncos Wire is taking a look back at the Denver Broncos’ 2022 draft class. Who made a difference? Who do the Broncos need to see more from going forward?

Faion Hicks wants Jim Leonhard to coach Broncos’ defense

Broncos cornerback Faion Hicks would like to see Jim Leonhard become Denver’s defensive coordinator.

Come to Denver @jimleonhard 👀 https://t.co/20NUe35vPJ

— Faion Hicks (@Faion_Hicks) February 20, 2023

As the Denver Broncos continue the interview process to fill their open defensive coordinator position, cornerback Faion Hicks has made his recommendation known: Jim Leonhard.

Hicks took to social media earlier this week and tweeted, “Come to Denver @jimleonhard” in response to a tweet about Leonhard interviewing with the Philadelphia Eagles for their DC opening.

Hicks, who joined the Broncos as a seventh-round pick last April, played under Leonhard at Wisconsin from 2017-2021. When Hicks arrived at the school, Leonhard was serving as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. He was promoted to interim head coach last fall.

The Badgers named Luke Fickell their full-time head coach last October and Leonhard later announced he would be leaving the school after the 2022 season. He’s now a canidate to make a jump to the NFL, but a potential hip surgery might delay that possibility.

“Leonhard had planned to undergo hip surgery and sit out coaching for a year, but when Eagles job opened, both sides had interest in discussing the position, which they did last week,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday. “Ultimately, they decided it wasn’t the right time.”

It’s unclear if it’s not the right time for Leonhard just in Philadelphia, or if it’s not the right time to join any NFL team. There’s been no word yet on if he has finalized a decion on potentially taking a break from coaching in 2023.

Leonhard was a safety in the NFL from 2005-2014, playing for the Broncos in 2012. He totaled 431 tackles, 14 interceptions and 4.5 sacks before hanging up his cleats in 2015. Leonhard starting his coaching career as a defensive backs coach at Wisconsin, his alma mater, in 2016.

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Broncos sign 9 players to reserve/future contracts

The Broncos signed nine players to reserve/future contracts on Monday.

At the end of the regular season, players who are not on an active roster are allowed to sign a reserve/future contract with an NFL team. Every player on a practice squad at the end of the season is eligible to do so.

The players that sign reserve/future deals officially join their team’s 90-man offseason roster when the NFL’s new league year begins in March.

This year, the Denver Broncos signed nine members of their practice squad to reserve/future contracts. Here is the list:

WR Victor Bolden
G Parker Ferguson
CB Faion Hicks
CB Delonte Hood
DB Devon Key
RB Tyreik McAllister
OLB Wyatt Ray
OL Hunter Thedford
LB Ray Wilborn

Denver did not sign five other players.

Hicks (5-10, 192 pounds) is one of the most notable players on the list. He was selected by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Wisconsin. Hicks failed to make Denver’s 53-man roster as a rookie, but he was quickly added to the team’s practice squad.

Hicks was elevated to the game-day roster two times during his rookie season, playing 30 snaps on special teams.

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