Now that the NFL regular season has come to an end and 18 teams have played their final game, we are beginning to see former Wisconsin Badgers put pen to paper and sign contracts for next season.
Two of those names, with more to come as more teams are eliminated from the playoffs, are offensive lineman Beau Benzschawel and inside linebacker Chris Orr—players who signed reserve/future contracts this week with the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers respectively.
Related: Full-season statistics for every former Wisconsin Badger in the NFL
Beau Benzschawel was signed to a reserve/future contract by Houston and Chris Orr the same by Carolina. This puts them on the teams' 90-man offseason roster. Likely will happen for Sojourn Shelton as well once Chicago is out of the playoffs. #Badgers
— Dave Heller (@dave_heller) January 4, 2021
The contracts ensure the two players will be part of their team’s offseason rosters and enter training camp with a shot at making the active roster.
Orr and Benzschawel combined to play in four games this season, each spending most of the year on the practice squad.
Their NFL journeys aren’t complete yet, and we’ll monitor their chances to make an active roster next season as the 2021 NFL season begins to approach.