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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.
HELLO TJ WATT! Look at that bend around the edge and the hand usage to get leverage. Whew that is a great pass rush against a good RT in Ryan Schraeder. pic.twitter.com/R99Qj7OWCr
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) October 8, 2018
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.
stop copying me bro @_TJWatt https://t.co/f72aR0brvH
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 8, 2018
Oh, and T.J. was ridiculously called for roughing the passer, as the NFL quintuples down on their craziness.
Would love to hear the explanation on how this was “roughing the passer” pic.twitter.com/Fv7reMBH84
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 7, 2018
- 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.
Joe Schobert forces the football out and Trevon Coley dives on it!
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 7, 2018
Our ball!#BALvsCLE pic.twitter.com/Gc9luCbfar
- 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.
Great effort here by Mo Hurst (73) @mohurstjr. This is in the 4th Q with the score 20-3. He doesn't care, he is out here trying to make plays. Earlier in the game he makes the play all the way down the field on the Melvin Gordon 34 yard screen. #Raiders #All22 #Raidernation pic.twitter.com/8AndQp81fo
— Ryan Holmes (@Rholm22) October 9, 2018
- 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.
James White almost rolled that dude’s ankle over. pic.twitter.com/aYEzJfSjce
— Patriots SBLIII (@PatriotsSBLIII) October 5, 2018
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:
Russell Wilson is a crazy brilliant man pic.twitter.com/LPU71Oanml
— Ben Baldwin (@benbbaldwin) October 9, 2018
And this was pretty cool:
Somewhere Andy Benoit is watching this and yelling at his screen pic.twitter.com/ag8eFuTfhW
— Ben Baldwin (@benbbaldwin) October 9, 2018
- 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.
In overtime. How important was the JJ Watt sack? #Texans let the TE on top free down the right sideline. Prescott was trying to get it there. They had them but Watt saved that big play. pic.twitter.com/3tufSLPFnu
— patrick (@PatDStat) October 9, 2018
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.
How is roughing the passer not even being discussed here? Because it’s @JJWatt ??? Leading with the helmet ✅ after the pass ✅ @ClayMatthews52 would be ejected pic.twitter.com/O2e4jrvGwz
— erik P (@therealErikP) October 8, 2018