The Colts have made initial roster cuts, bringing the roster down to 85 players.
The Indianapolis Colts made several moves on Tuesday to get the roster down to 85 players as per league rules.
The team announced a few different moves. First, they waived tight end Graham Adomitis and running back Darius Anderson. Then, they placed defensive end Damontre Moore on the injured reserve list and waived-injured wide receiver Quartney Davis and cornerback Nick Nelson.
If Davis and Nelson clear waivers, they will revert back to the team’s injured reserve list.
The league is trimming down rosters a bit differently in 2021. Tuesday’s deadline brings the roster down to 85 players. Then, the Tuesday following the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, another five players will be cut, bringing the roster down to 80 players. The Tuesday following the final preseason game, the roster will be trimmed down to 53 players.
Nelson played in 14 games for the Badgers back in 2017 after transferring from Hawaii, recording 35 tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss, 21 passes defended and 1 punt return touchdown.
The Indianapolis Colts signed cornerback Nick Nelson and tight end Jordan Thomas to reserve/futures contracts, the team announced Tuesday.
As the offseason begins for most teams, the rosters will expand to 90 players on Feb. 8, the day after the Super Bowl. This means teams can begin filling out their futures contracts for their 90-man roster and they won’t count toward the active roster until then.
Nelson worked out for the Colts last week. He’s a Wisconsin product who was initially selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He’s appeared in 12 games and has one pass defended.
Thomas was a sixth-round pick with the Houston Texans in the 2018 NFL draft. He has appeared in 27 games recording 22 receptions for 226 yards and five touchdowns.
The Indianapolis Colts held a tryout for cornerback Nick Nelson on Friday, per the league’s transaction wire.
With Rock Ya-Sin dealing with a concussion and missing the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it seems the Colts are keeping an eye on potential free agents to bring in.
Nelson was a fourth-round pick with the Raiders in 2018 and spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad and the injured reserve list. The Raiders waived him with a failed physical designation in 2020.
The Wisconsin product has appeared in 12 career games while recording 20 tackles (10 solo) and one pass defended.
Without Big Ten football this fall following former Badgers in the NFL may be the closest we get to watching Wisconsin Badger football…
Without Big Ten football this fall following former Badgers in the NFL may be the closest we get to watching Wisconsin Badger football.
Well, one name is now off that list as two days ago the Las Vegas Raiders waived cornerback Nick Nelson, a member of the Badgers in 2017 after transferring from Hawaii.
Former #Badgers CB Nick Nelson waived by Raiders due to a failed physical. One-time fourth-round pick has played in 12 games in two years.
As Dave Heller noted above the defensive back played in 12 games in two years for the Raiders after being their fourth-round pick during the 2018 NFL Draft.
His career with the team ends with those 12 games, three starts, one pass defended, one fumble recovery and 20 total tackles, this after he recorded 14 games played, 35 tackles, one tackle-for-loss and 21 passes defended during his one year in Madison.
The talent may be there for Nelson to find another NFL home, but the thing that has held him back more than anything since entering the league has been injuries. If he was healthy at this point and wasn’t placed on the injured reserve back in December he may have made the team, so what-ifs are present here as the defensive back works to get healthy and tries to get another shot with an NFL team.
The Las Vegas Raiders signed cornerback Prince Amukamara on Monday and in a subsequent move released former Wisconsin cornerback…
The Las Vegas Raiders signed cornerback Prince Amukamara on Monday and in a subsequent move waived former Wisconsin cornerback Nick Nelson.
Nelson transferred to Wisconsin before the 2017 season after two years at Hawaii and played his way into being selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
In his one year in Madison the Maryland native led the NCAA in passes defended with 21 and finished the season with 35 tackles, one tackle-for-loss and a memorable punt return touchdown against Michigan.
In Oakland (the Raiders moved from Oakland to Las Vegas after the end of the 2019 season) Nelson was unable to find similar success to that of his 2017 campaign with the Badgers as he played in a total of 12 games with three starts and recorded just one pass defense, one fumble recovery and 20 total tackles.
The former Badger will now look to find a new NFL home as each team’s offseason preparations get underway.
Nick Nelson began his college career at the University of Hawaii as a three-star cornerback out of Glenarden, Maryland. After two…
[lawrence-newsletter]
Nick Nelson began his college career at the University of Hawaii as a three-star cornerback out of Glenarden, Maryland.
After two productive seasons with the Rainbow Warriors in 2014 and 2015, one of the most interesting names out there for a college football team, the defensive back transferred to Wisconsin and redshirted the 2016 season.
During Nelson’s only season in Madison, the 2017 campaign, he was part of one of the most successful teams in school history as coach Paul Chryst led the Badgers to a 13-1 record capped off by a 34-24 Orange Bowl victory against No. 11 Miami.
His presence was pivotal for Jim Leonhard‘s defense that year, one that ranked No. 2 in the nation in yards-allowed-per-game with 262.1 and No. 3 in points-allowed-per-game with just 13.9, as he both led the nation and set the school’s single-season record with 21 pass breakups.
His most notable play came against No. 19 Michigan on November 18 when, in a scoreless game late in the first quarter, he took a punt back for a touchdown and sparked what would become a 24-10 victory against the Wolverines.
The Maryland native finished his one year in Madison with 35 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, again a school-record 21 pass breakups and 24 punt returns for 206 yards and the one return touchdown.
After the season the redshirt junior decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2018 NFL Draft where he was selected in the fourth round by the then-Oakland Raiders.
The beginning of his Raider career was a slow one with the cornerback only starting in three games as a rookie and logging one pass breakup, one fumble recovery and 20 total tackles.
Nelson was then waived before the 2019 season, re-signed to the Raiders’ practice squad, promoted back to the active roster in December and subsequently placed on injured reserve 13 days later.
Looking forward to 2020, Nelson projects to back up 2019 second round pick Trayvon Mullen at cornerback and receive most of his playing time on special teams.
The path to regular playing time is there for the former Badger, though, as both him and 2020 fourth round pick Amik Robertson will have a shot at battling former undrafted free agent Lamarcus Joyner for snaps at cornerback when the Raiders use a nickel formation, or snaps at one of the two starting corner positions were Mullen or 2020 first round pick Damon Arnette to struggle out of the game
Nelson is currently only signed for the 2020 season so when the time comes for him to receive snaps at corner it’s pivotal he shows the coaching staff what he’s capable of in order to earn another contract with the team.
Much has been written about the five former Badgers that made it to the NFL last week–Jonathan Taylor, Zack Baun, Tyler Biadasz…
[lawrence-newsletter]
Much has been written about the five former Badgers that made it to the NFL last week–Jonathan Taylor, Zack Baun, Tyler Biadasz, Quintez Cephus and Chris Orr–and how their draft slot and landing spot affects their NFL future.
What hasn’t been nearly as documented is what effect the draft had on former Badgers already in the NFL, especially the ones who may have already been in a position where they needed to battle for a role on the team.
Now, a team using its 5th and 6th round picks on a player at the same position of a Wisconsin product doesn’t necessarily mean that player will soon be out of the door.
Once it becomes a high selection, though, is when the veterans in the league are sometimes cast aside in favor of the younger, cheaper option at the position.
Here’s how the 2020 NFL Draft affects the jobs and playing time of former Badgers already in the NFL.
T.J. Edwards (Philadelphia Eagles)
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards (57) warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Edwards surprised many in Philadelphia as he finished the 2019 season as a starter at middle linebacker after making the team as an undrafted free agent.
Joining the starting rotation with low expectations after injuries to Kamu Grugier-Hill and Nigel Bradham, Edwards actually became the team’s best at the position and finished the season with a ProFootballFocus grade of 86.6.
During the NFL Draft, though, the Eagles used their third round pick on Colorado linebacker Davion Taylor, the highest the team has drafted a linebacker since 2015.
While it will take a year or two for Taylor to gain experience and learn the position–as he didn’t play in games until he reached college–and it may still be him and Edwards as the two starters, the Eagles brought in competition at the position and clearly view it as a need for the team going forward.
Edwards’ job isn’t in jeopardy with this move, but it adds competition to the room as Edwards tries to continue to prove wrong the teams that didn’t take a chance on him during the draft.
The Oakland Raiders placed former Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Nick Nelson on the injured reserve, ending his season.
The Oakland Raiders placed former Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Nick Nelson on the injured reserve, ending his season after he appeared in just two NFL games.
Nelson was originally a fourth round pick by Oakland in 2018. After appearing in 10 games his rookie year, he spent most of the 2019 season on the practice squad before getting recalled to replace safety DJ Swearinger earlier this month.
Nelson appeared in two games, recording just one snap on defense but 21 as a special teamer for the Raiders in weeks 15 and 16.
Although he has fallen down the pecking order for playing time at the cornerback position, his contributions as a special teamer should keep him around next year, depending on the severity of his injury.
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.
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.
