How Badgers fared in the NFL during Week 5

Former Wisconsin outside linebacker T.J. Watt wanted nothing to do with your complaints that he lacks the skill to rush the passer, as he exploded with three sacks in Week 5 of the 2018 NFL season. That launched him to a tie for first in sacks with his brother, J.J. Watt. Meanwhile, another former Badgers outside ‘backer in Vince Biegel is subjected to only taking special teams snaps with the Saints.

T.J. was also called for a laughably bad roughing the passer, while J.J. got away with launching the crown his helmet into Dallas QB Dak Prescott’s chest.

Of course, NFL veterans Joe Schobert and James White continued their stellar seasons, while Russell Wilson, Melvin Gordon, and J.J. Watt put in another good week of work.

Here’s a breakdown of how (most of) the Badgers in the NFL did during Week 5.

Rookies

• Leon Jacobs (Jaguars): Jacobs recorded no stats in the Jaguars 30-14 loss to the Chiefs. He only played in three defensive snaps and three special teams snaps, down from 11 and eight respectively in Week 1.
• Nick Nelson (Raiders): Nelson was held out once again in Week 5, and he has yet to see the field in his young NFL career.
• Jack Cichy (Buccaneers): Bye week.
• Natrell Jamerson (Texans): Jamerson hasn’t played a defensive snap, but he is consistently seeing roughly 25% of special teams snaps. He saw the field for eight special teams plays in a 19-16 win over the Cowboys.
• Troy Fumagalli (Broncos): On IR. However, both Cichy and Fumagalli, former roommates, walk-ons and team captains were in Madison this weekend:

Sophomores

• T.J. Watt (Steelers): Watt, coming off a few weeks of pedestrian performance and criticism, exploded in the Steelers 41-17 win over the Falcons. He forced a fumble and sacked the quarterback three times, ending a three-week sack drought.

T.J.’s season stats are eerily similar to his brother J.J. Watt; both are tied for the league lead in sacks at six.

Oh, and T.J. was ridiculously called for roughing the passer, as the NFL quintuples down on their craziness.

• Corey Clement (Eagles): Clement is still dealing with a quad injury, and he was held out for a second straight week. This is really unfortunate for Clement given his role was expanding during the first three weeks of the season.
• Vince Biegel (Saints): Like Jamerson, Biegel is only getting reps on special teams. In his three games playing for the Saints, Biegel sees roughly 65 percent of special teams snaps. He recorded no stats in the Saints 43-19 win over Washington.

Veterans

• Joe Schobert (Browns): Schobert has been a valuable tackle-maker for the Browns, and that continued in their 12-9 win over the Ravens. He recorded nine tackles and forced a fumble to boot.

• Melvin Gordon (Chargers): Gordon was a bit more human in San Diego’s 26-10 win over Oakland. The fourth-year yard-getter recorded 110 overall yards and had a low yards per carry (3.1) on the ground. However, his four catches for 62 yards is nice, and he did run for a touchdown.

• James White (Patriots): White is just a beast of a pass-catcher. He has 32 catches on the year now after a ten catch performance for 77 yards and a touchdown against the Colts.

I don’t recommend trying to tackle him with a poor angle.

Like Fumagalli and Cichy, White also was in attendance for Wisconsin’s win over Nebraska:

• Russell Wilson (Seahawks): Seattle’s pass-thrower hurled three touchdown passes in a 33-31 loss to the Rams. However, he only completed 13 of 21 passes for 198 yards.

This was fun, though:

And this was pretty cool:

• Alex Erickson (Bengals): Erickson’s contributions are growing exponentially; he caught three passes for 24 yards. His 60 percent of offensive snaps set another season high.
• Lance Kendricks (Packers): Kendricks caught a touchdown pass off of play action in the Packers 31-23 loss to the Lions.
• J.J. Watt (Texans): Watt’s day was mostly quiet, and then he recorded a monster sack late in a 19-16 win over the Cowboys.

He also honestly should have been called for roughing the passer on his hit on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. How this wasn’t called a penalty, but T.J.’s hit was is beyond me.