Wisconsin football: Badgers in the NFL

The NFL returns tonight, which means another year of watching Wisconsin players take the field on Sundays. As the preseason came to an end over the weekend, teams trimmed their rosters to 53 players and there were plenty of former Badgers that made the cut. Here is the list of Wisconsin players in the NFL heading into Week 1:

Rookies

Andrew Van Ginkel, LB, Miami Dolphins: The fifth round pick is listed as a backup at linebacker for the Dolphins

David Edwards, OT, Los Angeles Rams: Edwards will be backing up veteran Andrew Whitworth at left tackle

Michael Deiter, OG, Miami Dolphins: The third round pick is listed as the starter at left guard for Week 1

Ryan Connelly, LB, New York Giants: Connelly, a fifth round pick, is a backup middle linebacker for the G-Men

Beau Benzschawel, C, Detroit Lions: Benzschawel went undrafted but made the Lions roster and is currently the backup center

Alec Ingold, FB, Oakland Raiders: Ingold was also undrafted but beat out veteran Keith Smith to win the fullback job in Oakland

T.J. Edwards, LB, Philadelphia Eagles: Edwards is the third undrafted rookie in this class to make a 53-man roster; listed as the backup inside linebacker

Veterans

Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks: The six time pro bowler will try and lead Seattle back to the playoffs this season

Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers: Currently holding out with no real end in sight; Could a trade be on the horizon?

James White, RB, New England Patriots: Sweet Feet will once again be the Patriots’ primary passing downs back

Dare Ogunbowale, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: One of three running backs on the Bucs roster and will likely see snaps as a third down back

Corey Clement, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Credit to Clement for making the 53-man roster in a crowded Eagles backfield; talented special teams player and depth running back

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Derek Watt, FB, Los Angeles Chargers: Entering his fourth season in the league, Watt is the only full back on the Chargers roster

Ryan Ramczyk, OT, New Orleans Saints: A second team All-Pro last season, Ramczyk is the starter at right tackle for the Saints

Rob Havenstein, OT, Los Angeles Rams: Havenstein has started 59 games in his four year career, he returns as the Rams’ starter at right tackle

Rick Wagner, OT, Detroit Lions: Wagner, a six year veteran, is listed as the starter at right tackle for the Lions

Kevin Zeitler, OG, New York Giants: Zeitler enters his eighth year in the league as the starting right guard for the rebuilding Giants

Travis Frederick, C, Dallas Cowboys: After missing the 2018 season with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, the four time pro bowler is back as the Cowboys’ starting center

Lance Kendricks, TE, New England Patriots: Kendricks is suspended week one, but he will be a member of a thin tight end group in New England

Troy Fumagalli, TE, Denver Broncos: In his second season, Fumagalli is a back up tight end but has also taken snaps at fullback in camp

Alex Erickson, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: Erickson will handle kick-off and punt return duties in Cincinnati

J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans: The three time defensive player of the year will once again wreck havoc on opposing quarterbacks if he can stay healthy

Beau Allen, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A five-year veteran, Allen is currently second on the depth chart at nose tackle for the Bucs

Joe Schobert, LB, Cleveland Browns: Schobert is a tackling machine and the starter at middle linebacker for a much-improved Browns team

T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Watt is one of the premier pass rushers in the league (13 sacks in 2018) and will start at OLB for a Steelers team with playoff aspirations

Vince Biegel, LB, Miami Dolphins: Traded to the Dolphins on September 1; second on the depth chart at linebacker for the tanking Dolphins

Jack Cichy, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cichy returned from an ACL tear to make the 53-man roster; special teams player

Leon Jacobs, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacobs is listed as the starter at strong side linebacker for one of the best defenses in the league; Started three games in 2018

Natrell Jamerson, DB, Carolina Panthers: After being cut by the Packers, the Panthers added him to their 53-man roster; special teams player