How Badgers in the NFL fared during preseason Week 1

It is almost the beginning of another NFL season, and your money-making Badger football players are working to make their respective rosters and find a favorable spot in their positional rotation.

Let’s do a quick roundup and take a look at how the Badgers in the NFL did in their first preseason games. Overall, other than Russell Wilson’s solid first quarter, nothing particularly special happened on the field.

Rookies

• Leon Jacobs (Jaguars): Jacobs has a good opportunity to start with Jacksonville this season, and he recorded a pair of solo tackles in a 24–20 loss to New Orleans.
• Nick Nelson (Raiders): Nelson seems recovered from his torn meniscus, and he is jockeying for a spot on Oakland’s depth chart. The Raiders want to get a good look at Nelson for sure, as they gave him 59 snaps in a 16–10 win over the Lions. He recorded five tackles in his first game as a pro and also handled a few kick and punt returns with pedestrian results.
• Jack Cichy (Buccaneers): Cichy recorded a pair of tackles in a 26–24 win over the Dolphins, and it was nice to see him playing ball again.
• Conor Sheehy (Packers): Two tackles in a 31–17 win over the Titans.
• Natrell Jamerson (Saints): One tackle vs. the Jaguars.
• Alec James (Cardinals): No stat line in a 24–17 win over the Chargers.
• Troy Fumagalli (Broncos): Held out of a 42–28 loss to the Vikings with a sports hernia.
• Garret Dooley (Vikings): No stat line vs. the Broncos.

Sophomores

• Sojourn Shelton (Bengals): He’s out for a few months with a torn thumb ligament and a broken hand.
• Vince Biegel (Packers): One fumble recovered, no tackles vs. the Titans.
• Ryan Ramczyk (Saints): I’m going to be honest, I didn’t break down the film of non-Packers offensive linemen. They don’t keep salient stats for offensive tackles, so it’s hard for me to comment on his play. However, Ramczyk was named one of the top players under 25 by ESPN. So that’s good.

• Corey Clement (Eagles): Clement had a solid day with five carries for 30 yards in a 31–14 loss to the Steelers.. He also had a pair of receptions.
• T.J. Watt (Steelers): Out vs. the Eagles with a hamstring injury.
• Dare Ogunbowale (Buccaneers): Ogunbowale struggled to get going vs. the Dolphins, earning 15 yards on only seven carries.

Veterans

• Dezmen Southward (Panthers): The safety is taking reps at cornerback with the Panthers due to their injury-riddled secondary. He had one tackle in a 28–23 win vs. the Bills.
• Kevin Zeitler (Browns): Zeitler was held out of a 20–10 win vs. the Giants with a calf injury. He should be back for the regular season.
• Russell Wilson (Seahawks): Wilson completed four passes in five attempts for 43 yards and a touchdown in a 19–17 loss to the Colts.
• Melvin Gordon (Chargers): Gordon had five carries for 16 yards vs. the Cardinals.
• Derek Watt (Chargers): Watt had a pair of catches for eight yards vs. the Cards, but also lost a fumble.

The rest of the NFL Badgers veterans are healthy and were either held out of the first preseason game or had pedestrian performances. They are: Alex Erickson (Bengals), Joe Schobert (Browns), Ryan Groy (Bills), Austin Traylor (Broncos), Tanner McEvoy (Seahawks), Tyler Marz (Titans), James White (Patriots), Beau Allen (Buccaneers), Travis Frederick (Cowboys), Rob Havenstein (Rams), Rick Wagner (Lions), Lance Kendricks (Packers), J.J. Watt (Texans), and Chris Maragos (Eagles).