Badgers in the NFL: Week 8

Veterans

• Russell Wilson, QB (Seahawks): Wilson had another stellar performance on Sunday, throwing for 261 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. The nine year veteran is having a career year in 2020, and has now thrown for a league-leading 26 touchdowns and only six interceptions through eight weeks.

• James White, RB (Patriots): The seven year veteran logged 31 offensive snaps and had two catches for 35 yards in Week 8. White has had a down season due to a shaky Patriots offense that struggles to throw the football.
• Melvin Gordon, RB (Broncos): Gordon played a season-low 55% of offensive snaps and finished with 26 rushing yards on eight carries in the Broncos’ win over the Chargers. The former Doak Walker Award winner also had six catches for 21 receiving yards.
• Corey Clement, RB (Eagles): With starter Miles Sanders out for a second straight game, Clement saw the field for 32% of offensive snaps in Week 8. He rushed for 24 yards on five carries and added one reception for four yards. The four year veteran also played 75% of special teams snaps and notched one tackle.
• Dare Ogunbowale, RB (Jaguars): The Jaguars had a bye in Week 8.
• Derek Watt, FB (Steelers): After missing last week with a hamstring injury, Watt was active in Week 8 but played no snaps for the Steelers.
• Alec Ingold, FB (Raiders): Ingold played a season-high 36% of offensive snaps in Week 8 and had one carry for three yards.
• Ryan Ramczyk, OT (Saints): Ramczyk started at right tackle and played 100% of the offensive snaps in the Saints’ win over the Bears.

• Rick Wagner, OT (Packers): For the second straight week, Wagner started at right tackle and played every offensive snap for the Packers.
• Rob Havenstein, OT (Rams): Havenstein started at right tackle and played all 95 offensive snaps in the Rams’ loss to the Dolphins.
• Kevin Zeitler, OG (Giants): The nine year veteran once again started at right guard and played every offensive snap in Week 8.
• David Edwards, OG (Rams): Edwards started his sixth straight game at left guard and has played well enough to earn the starting job for the foreseeable future.

• Ryan Groy, OG (Chargers): Groy tested positive for the coronavirus last week and was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list by the Chargers. He was also added to the injured reserve list due to a triceps injury suffered last week and will miss at least three games.
• Michael Deiter, C (Dolphins): The Dolphins’ backup center logged just four special teams snaps on Sunday.
• Alex Erickson, WR (Bengals): It was an uneventful week for Erickson, who played just one offensive snap and five special teams snaps with no punt returns.
• J.J. Watt, DE (Texans): The Texans had a bye in Week 8.
• Beau Allen, DT (Patriots): After being on injured reserve for the first eight weeks of the season, Allen has been shut down and won’t play for the Patriots this year.

• Joe Schobert, LB (Jaguars): The Jaguars had a bye in Week 8.
• T.J. Watt, LB (Steelers): Watt had another productive game in Week 8. The former All-Pro finished with five tackles, five quarterback hits, and one sack in the Steelers’ win over the Ravens. Through eight weeks, Watt is a legitimate contender to win Defensive Player of the Year.

• T.J. Edwards, LB (Eagles): Edwards played the best game of his young career on Sunday night, finishing with 13 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and one force fumble. His sack came at a crucial moment late in the fourth quarter and resulted in a game-sealing fumble recovery touchdown for the Eagles.

• Ryan Connelly, LB (Vikings): The former walk-on played 42% of special teams snaps and recorded no tackles in the Vikings’ win over the Packers.
• Andrew Van Ginkel, LB (Dolphins): Van Ginkel had a standout game in Week 8, notching three tackles, a quarterback hit, and a 78-yard fumble recovery touchdown.

Rookies

• Jonathan Taylor, RB (Colts): Taylor took a backseat to the Colts’ other running backs in Week 8, rushing for just 22 yards on 11 carries. He also had two catches for nine receiving yards. Taylor was outplayed by Jordan Wilkins on Sunday and has underwhelmed so far this season with a 3.9 yards per carry average.

• Quintez Cephus, WR (Lions): Cephus was a healthy inactive for the third straight week on Sunday.
• Tyler Biadasz, C (Cowboys): For the fourth straight game, Biadasz started at center and played every offensive snap for the Cowboys.
• Zack Baun, LB (Saints): Baun saw only one snap on defense, but logged 17 special teams snaps and recorded one tackle in the Saints’ win over the Bears.