Tag: Linebackers

Former Wisconsin linebacker blocks field goal to extend Chiefs’ record win streak

Former Wisconsin linebacker blocks field goal to extend Chiefs’ record win streak

This story was updated to add new information.

Former Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal clinched the Kansas City Chiefs’ 15th straight win with a blocked field goal on Sunday.

The play arrived on the final sequence of the game in Arrowhead Stadium. After Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix orchestrated a 43-yard drive in the final six minutes of play, kicker Will Lutz squared up for a 35-yard field goal attempt with just one second remaining on the clock.

Immediately after the ball was snapped and Lutz kicked the attempt, Chenal darted between two Broncos offensive tackles, leaped with both hands outstretched and blocked the field goal to secure the Chiefs’ victory.

The team’s ongoing 15-game win streak dating back to December 2023, including both regular season and playoffs, is the eighth-longest in NFL history. It is only three games shy of five teams that reached 18 straight wins, including the 2007 New England Patriots and 1989-90 San Francisco 49ers. The all-time record is 21 straight wins, held by the 2003-04 Patriots.

Outside of the blocked kick, Chenal tallied four tackles on the day. Through eight games this season, he has posted 33 total tackles, 22 solo tackles and three pass deflections.

Chenal has emerged as one of the more dependable playmakers in arguably the best defensive unit across the NFL this season. Kansas City now improves to 9-0 on the season in pursuit of the organization’s third straight Super Bowl.

Former Wisconsin linebacker impresses prominent media personality

Former Wisconsin linebacker impresses prominent TV personality

Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun showcased his versatility in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

The former Badger finished the contest with 10 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and an interception. Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker and media personality at FS1 broke down Baun’s play vs. the Jaguars on Thursday morning.

On the first two defensive sequences for the Eagles, Baun can be seen breaking up a deep pass down the right sideline before squaring up parallel to the line of scrimmage and tackling running back Travis Etienne Jr.

The fourth play of the game features Baun making a difficult open-field tackle on Etienne Jr. once more.

Acho proceeds with the highlights and alludes to Baun’s ability to orchestrate perfect defensive positioning as a curl flat defender.

Here’s his full breakdown of Baun’s performance:

Through eight appearances with Philadelphia this season, Baun has recorded 79 total tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. That interception came during the highlighted performance.

Acho notably refers to Baun as a top five linebacker in the NFL up to this point of the 2024 season. With the way he’s playing, it’s hard to argue against the position.

Baun’s Eagles sit at 6-2 through eight games. They will next face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 10.

UPDATE: Wisconsin linebackers to play in Badgers’ game vs. Iowa

UPDATE: Wisconsin linebackers to play for Badgers’ game vs. Iowa

This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo

Wisconsin linebackers Tackett Curtis and Jaheim Thomas are both available to play vs. Iowa, according to the Wisconsin State Journal’s Colton Bartholomew.

While both UW linebackers were listed on Wisconsin’s final injury report two hours before kickoff, Bartholomew noted that both were fully-padded through warmups in Iowa City.

In a game that easily morph into a defensive battle, both playmakers could make an instant impact against the Hawkeyes in a must-win scenario.

Badgers’ wide receivers Tyrell Henry and Bryson Green were also listed as questionable on UW’s injury report.

Jaheim Thomas last registered nine total tackles, including five solo, in UW’s 28-13 loss to Penn State at Camp Randall on Oct. 26. Through eight games, he has recorded 52 total tackles, 24 solo tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack.

Curtis, meanwhile, has posted 18 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one pass deflection in eight appearances during his first season as a Badger.

If either Thomas or Curtis can get to the quarterback on just a few occasions. UW’s chances of securing a crucial road win will certainly increase.

Wisconsin legend wreaks havoc against Giants during ‘Monday Night Football’

Wisconsin legend wreaks havoc against Giants during Monday Night Football

Wisconsin great T.J. Watt notched another game-changing output in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-18 win over the New York Giants on Monday.

Roughly one week removed from a quiet performance against the New York Jets on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ Watt reminded onlookers of his defensive dominance before yet another national audience.

Watt registered five solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery against the Giants as the Steelers registered their sixth win of the season.

Watt’s most impactful sequence arrived in a crucial spot during the fourth quarter. With Daniel Jones and the Giants on the Steelers’ 19-yard line down just eight points, Watt sprinted past New York offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor to strip-sack Jones and flip possession.

Even though the Giants put together another possession in the fourth, the play essentially sealed the deal for Mike Tomlin’s squad. Watt now leads the league with four forced fumbles and remains the most dominant player on a defense many consider the NFL’s most elite unit.

Watt and company will be back in action against the Washington Commanders on Nov. 10.

Former Wisconsin linebacker played role during Commanders game-winning Hail Mary

Former Wisconsin linebacker played big role during Commanders game-winning Hail Mary

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards appeared to serve as the ‘spy’ on Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels during the Commanders’ miraculous game-winning Hail Mary on Sunday.

Assigned to cover dynamic Washington quarterback Daniels during the play, Edwards is seen roaming the middle of the field to prevent the former Heisman Trophy winner from rushing in the game’s waning seconds.

The play ultimately resulted in an unlikely touchdown after Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tipped Daniel’s pass backward to wide receiver Noah Brown. Brown — who was positioned in the perfect place at the most opportune time. Brown caught the game-winning touchdown, wide open behind a pile of Commanders pass-catchers and Bears defenders.

While several talking heads and social media users may be debating whether Edwards’ role as the spying linebacker was essential or not, the play was predicated on luck. The odds of Edwards playing any type of role in a pass breakup play aren’t zero, but they’re low.

Edwards finished the game with six total tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack. The Bears next game is schedule for Sunday, Nov. 3 on the road against the Arizona Cardinals.

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker forces turnover vs. Jaguars in London

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker forces turnover vs. Jaguars in London

Former Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards flashed his defensive abilities against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

In the NFL’s second consecutive international game staged in London, England, Edwards notched seven tackles, one forced fumble and one pass deflection for the Chicago Bears.

Edwards’ forced fumble arrived on the first sequence of the second quarter with the Bears up 14-3. After Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed a 24-yard pass to tight end Evan Engram, Edwards stormed in from behind the pass-catcher to execute a tackle and rip the ball out of his hands.

Bears’ cornerback Elijah Hicks scooped up the loose ball and wound up on Jacksonville’s 41-yard line. Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams turned Edwards’ play into a nine-yard touchdown pass to veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen to push the Bears ahead 21-3. The score would prove to be the deciding touchdown of the contest.

https://twitter.com/NFLBadgers/status/1845482456926847241

Edwards has now registered 47 total tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery through six games of the 2024 season. He will suit up at linebacker next alongside Tremaine Edmunds and Jack Sanborn in the Bears’ Week 7 game against the Washington Commanders on Oct. 27.

Former Wisconsin legends were PFF’s highest-graded edge defenders for NFL Week 5

Former Wisconsin legends were PFF’s highest-graded edge defenders for NFL Week 5

Through five games of the 2024 NFL season, a group of former Wisconsin defenders have wreaked havoc on opposing offenses.

Among those top playmakers are Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig. The duo put on quite the show against the Dallas Cowboys during Week 5 on Sunday Night Football.

Despite losing 20-17 after Cowboy quarterback Dak Prescott engineered a game-winning drive with under 30 seconds to spare, the duo made their presence felt throughout the game. Watt finished with eight tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits while Herbig recorded two tackles, 1/2 sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Their spectacular outputs also impressed some folks at ProFootballFocus. Herbig reeled in an overall grade of 91.0, the highest among any qualified edge rusher this week, while Watt finished with a grade of 90.3, tied for second only behind his teammate.

The most notable play for each Badger alumnus occurred on the same sequence. Facing a critical third down sequence, the two converged in the Cowboys’ backfield to strip-sack Prescott to prevent Dallas from scoring and to flip possession back in Pittsburgh’s favor.

While Watt has morphed into the heartbeat the Steelers’ defense, Herbig has just dipped his toes into his NFL career. After selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft, he put up 27 tackles, 3.0 sacks, five tackles, three quarterback hits and two forced fumbles as a rookie.

In just five games, he already boasts eight tackles, 2.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. If he continues to play at this pace, Steelers fans will see much more of him alongside Watt throughout the season.

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker records his second pick-six of 2024 season

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker records his second pick-six of 2024 season

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel recorded his second pick-six of the 2024 season on Sunday vs. the New York Jets.

Van Ginkel, who is one of several former UW stars currently playing in the NFL at the linebacker position, picked off four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers late in the first quarter of the Vikings’ Week 5 game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.

On a third-down play, Van Ginkel intercepted a pass intended for wide receiver Garrett Wilson and took it 63 yards back to the end zone. The score pushed Minnesota ahead 10-0. Rodgers ended with three interceptions, and Minnesota ultimately prevailed 23-17.

Van Ginkel walked off the gridiron with the pick-six, one tackle, one pass deflection and one quarterback hit. He now leads the NFL in interceptions returned for touchdowns with two.

Here is the entire play and call from across the pond:

With the win, Minnesota improved to an NFL-best 5-0 on the 2024 season. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ unit has allowed 17 points or fewer in four of those victories. Thanks to Van Ginkel, it has also scored 14.

Saints rule out starter vs. Chiefs, update Kendre Miller’s status

The New Orleans Saints linebacker unit will be without Pete Werner against the Chiefs, and Kendre Miller’s status was updated for Week 5:

The New Orleans Saints provided two updates to their injuries on Sunday, which included marking starting linebacker Pete Werner as out and returning running back Kendre Miller as doubtful. Werner will also not travel with the team to Kansas City for their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, which is an unfortunate development as the team was already without Willie Gay Jr. as well, and Demario Davis is returning off injury. If last week is any indication, the starters will be Davis and D’Marco Jackson for Week 5.

Kendre Miller being downgraded is not great news either, as he had practiced fully at points during the week, but unfortunately will not be able to take some pressure off of Alvin Kamara just yet unless a major swing occurs and he looks ready on Monday. We will see how he looks pre-game and if anything has changed, but this could also be a precautionary measure to ensure he is fully healthy before getting on the field.

Former Wisconsin linebacker leads NFL in solo tackles entering Week 4

Former Wisconsin linebacker leads NFL in solo tackles entering Week 4

Former Wisconsin and current Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun leads the NFL with 27 solo tackles entering Week 4.

After nine solo tackles in the Eagles’ 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Baun took a commanding lead over the hierarchy. Safety Nick Cross (Colts), linebacker E.J. Speed (Colts), linebacker Robert Spillane (Raiders) and cornerback Jamal Dean (Buccaneers) round out the top five through three weeks of action.

The West Bend, Wisconsin, native has also accumulated 37 total tackles — second-most to Cross.

Baun, whose previous career high in solo tackles was 22 in 2021 with the New Orleans Saints, has enjoyed a breakout season in his first year in Philadelphia. He, alongside Bryce Huff, Nakobe Dean and Josh Sweat, leads the NFL’s No. 4-ranked tackling defense thus far through three weeks.

The former Badger is among eight rostered linebackers across the 32-team NFL in 2024. That star-studded list includes T.J. Watt (Steelers), Nick Herbig (Steelers), Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings), Leo Chenal (Chiefs), Maema Njongmeta (Bengals), Jack Sanborn (Bears) and T.J. Edwards (Bears).

The 2019 first consensus first-team All-American linebacker will be back on the gridiron on Sept. 29 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.