Badgers in the NFL, Week 13

As always, past Badger alumni performances and news this season can be found here. A complete and updated list of Badgers on NFL rosters can be found here.

Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers running back

Coming off the team’s bye week, Gordon picked up right where he left off on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The second-year back ran the ball 17 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Chargers in receiving, with four catches and 54 yards. The touchdown was his 10th on the year, making him the first player in league history to score 10 rushing touchdowns after scoring none in the previous season.

Gordon sits eight yards from his first career 1,000-yard season and, for what it’s worth, is currently graded as Pro Football Focus’ second-ranked running back for the season:

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback

Wilson and his Seahawks bounced back in a big way on Sunday, defeating the Carolina Panthers 40-7. The quarterback completed 26 of 36 passes with a touchdown and an interception. He added 29 rushing yards and his 277 passing yards put him over 3,000 for the season.

Wilson lost ownership of an impressive record earlier in the week. In his 2012 rookie season, Wilson recorded a QB rating of 100.0-or-more in nine games. Cowboys quarterback set a new record on Thursday night as he recorded his 10th such game.

Brad Nortman, Jacksonville Jaguars punter

Nortman was a busy man on Sunday, punting the ball eight times in Jacksonville’s 20-10 loss to the Denver Broncos. He averaged 41.1 yards per punt and landed four inside the 20. He wasn’t the only busy punter in the game; the Jaguars and Broncos combined for 19 punts for 875 yards during the game.

Since signing with Jacksonville in the offseason, Nortman has proven a valuable commodity. He ranks in the top 10 in the NFL in punts, yards per punt and punts landed inside the 20-yard line.

Other highlights:

• Linebacker Jonathan Casillas racked up a team-leading eight tackles in the New York Giants’ 24-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• James White continued to pile on the best statistical season of his career on Sunday. He carries the ball three times for 17 yards and caught four passes for 18 yards, helping the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams.
• On the other side of the Patrtiots-Rams matchup was tight end Lance Kendricks. He caught two passes for 13 yards in the loss.
• Rookie wide receiver Alex Erickson continued his typical work as a kick and punt returner for the Cincinnati Bengals. He returned one kick for 19 yards and gained four yards on two punt returns. Erickson saw some work at wide receiver and caught one pass for 16 yards.
• It was Tolzien Time again in Indianapolis, though for a different reason this week. With starting quarterback Andrew Luck back in the lineup, Scott Tolzien returned to his backup role. The Colts blew the New York Jets out and Tolzien saw time in mop-up duty, completing his only throw for 11 yards.
• Seattle’s Tannner McEvoy was on the receiving end of one of Wilson’s completions. He caught a 14-yard pass on Sunday night.
• Beau Allen recorded two tackles for the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Chargers fullback Derek Watt gained a first down on his only carry, a two-yard plunge.