Badgers in the NFL, Week 9

Here is your weekly reminder that past performances and news for Wisconsin Badgers in the NFL can be found here, while a complete list of alumni on active rosters is here.

Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers running back

Gordon was the talk of the NFL world on Sunday afternoon as he led the Chargers to a 43-35 shootout victory over the Tennessee Titans. The former Badger was hot from the start as he rushed for 100 yards in the first half alone against a defense that ranked in the top five against the run.

By the end of the game, he totaled 196 rushing yards and a touchdown on 32 carries, perhaps none more impressive than this fourth-quarter jaunt that helped seal the game:

Gordon added four catches for 65 yards through the air. His 261 all-purpose yardage is the second-most in franchise history. With that much productivity, his day was chock-full of highlights:

To add to Gordon’s success, national media outlets have begun mentioning Gordon in NFL Comeback Player of the Year conversations. He was also named AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday:

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback

After a few weeks of mediocre output, Wilson broke out in Seattle’s win over the Buffalo Bills. Wilson threw for 282 yards (229 in the first half) and two touchdowns in the 31-25 thriller, while adding three total touchdowns (all in the first half). The scores were Wilson’s first of any kind since Oct. 2.

Brad Nortman, Jacksonville Jaguars punter

It seems like we’re highlighting Nortman more than any former Badgers outside of Gordon, and for good reason. Nortman punted four times for a 41.8 average while landing one inside the 20-yard line on Sunday. He recorded a tackle for good measure in the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The punter’s October performance gained him some league-wide recognition as well:

Other highlights and notes:

• Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy missed his eighth straight game this weekend. Off the field, he penned an open letter to the University of Wisconsin. The letter expresses Levy’s disappointment in the fan incident that occurred at Camp Randall Stadium and the university’s response a couple of weeks ago. It came a day before Wisconsin student-athletes released a statement of their own on the issue.
• Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Beau Allen totaled five tackles, including 1.5 for loss, on Sunday.
• Jonathan Casillas recorded four tackles in the New York Giants’ 28-23 win over Allen’s Eagles.
• Rookie linebacker Joe Schobert made one tackle in the Cleveland Browns’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys.