Badgers in the NFL: Week 3

Veterans

• Russell Wilson, QB (Seahawks): Wilson had another dominant performance in Week 3. The former Super Bowl champion threw for 315 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 22 yards on the ground. He has now thrown for 14 touchdowns and just one interception through three weeks and has led the Seahawks to a 3-0 start.

• James White, RB (Patriots): White was inactive for the second straight game following the tragic death of his father last week.
• Melvin Gordon, RB (Broncos): With the Broncos playing from behind for almost their entire game against the Bucs, Gordon had only eight carries for 26 rushing yards. He was targeted six times through the air, finishing with four catches for 12 receiving yards. Gordon gets a much more favorable matchup in Week 4 when the Broncos play the lowly Jets on Thursday night.
• Corey Clement, RB (Eagles): Clement saw only six snaps at running back and totaled eight rushing yards on three carries. He also played a significant role on special teams, playing 69% of special teams snaps and recording one tackle.
• Dare Ogunbowale, RB (Jaguars): Ogunbowale logged only five snaps at running back, but did play 57% of special teams snaps and finished with two tackles in Week 3.
• Derek Watt, FB (Steelers): Watt played seven snaps at fullback and nine special teams snaps before leaving Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. It is unclear whether he will be able to suit up for the Steelers’ Week 4 game against the Titans.
• Alec Ingold, FB (Raiders): Who says fullbacks aren’t athletic? Ingold had only one catch for 11 yards on Sunday, but he hurdled a defender in an impressive display of athleticism for the second year fullback. He also played 61% of special teams snaps.

• Ryan Ramczyk, OT (Saints): Ramczyk started at right tackle and played all 61 offensive snaps for the Saints on Sunday night.
• Rick Wagner, OT (Packers): A week after starting at right tackle for the Packers, Wagner was back to the bench on Sunday. The eight year veteran did play seven snaps on special teams, though.
• Rob Havenstein, OT (Rams): The six year veteran started at right tackle and played 100% of the offensive snaps in the Rams’ loss to the Bills.
• Kevin Zeitler, OG (Giants): Zeitler once again started at right guard and played every offensive snap for the Giants in Week 3.
• David Edwards, OG (Rams): Edwards started at left guard on Sunday after starter Joe Noteboom was placed on IR earlier in the week. The former fifth round pick played every offensive snap in the Rams’ loss to the Bills. It’s still early in the season, but Edwards has looked great and has the opportunity to secure a long term starting job this season.

• Michael Deiter, C (Dolphins): The Dolphins’ backup center logged just five special teams snaps on Thursday night.
• Ryan Groy, C (Chargers): Groy was promoted from the Chargers’ practice squad to the active roster prior to Week 3. After starting right guard Tyree St. Louis was forced to leave Sunday’s game in the first quarter due to lightheadedness, Groy replaced him and ended up playing 96% of offensive snaps.
• Alex Erickson, WR (Bengals): Erickson returned four punts for 37 yards in Week 3, good for 9.25 yards per return. He was once again a non-factor in Cincinnati’s offensive game plan, as he played just six snaps at wide receiver and received no targets.
• J.J. Watt, DE (Texans): In a matchup against the Steelers and his two brothers, J.J. played 90% of defensive snaps and finished with four total tackles.

• Joe Schobert, LB (Jaguars): The five year veteran played every defensive snap and finished with eight total tackles, including one tackle for loss, in Jacksonville’s Thursday night loss to the Dolphins.
• T.J. Watt, LB (Steelers): T.J. outplayed his older brother J.J. in the Steelers’ win over the Texans. The two-time Pro Bowler finished with four total tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits in Week 3.

• Leon Jacobs, LB (Jaguars): Unfortunately, Jacobs tore his ACL on Thursday night and will miss the remainder of the season. He played just six snaps at strong side linebacker and recorded one tackle before exiting the game. It’s a brutal break for Jacobs, who is one of 22 players to suffer an ACL tear through three weeks of the season.
• Ryan Connelly, LB (Vikings): Connelly has yet to break into the linebacker rotation for Minnesota and saw no defensive snaps in Week 3. He did, however, play 50% of special teams snaps, but recorded no tackles.
• Jack Cichy, LB (Buccaneers): Cichy continues to see playing time on special teams for the Bucs this season. He played 75% of special teams snaps but did not record a tackle in Tampa Bay’s win over the Broncos.
• T.J. Edwards, LB (Eagles): Edwards played a season-high 71% of defensive snaps at inside linebacker and tallied four total tackles for the Eagles. He was also on the the field for 83% of special teams snaps.
• Andrew Van Ginkel, LB (Dolphins): Van Ginkel saw his highest snap count of the season in Week 3, playing 20% of defensive snaps and finishing with one sack.

Rookies

• Jonathan Taylor, RB (Colts): The Colts kept their rookie running back fresh in a lopsided win over the Jets, as Taylor played 40% of offensive snaps had only 13 carries. The second round pick totaled 59 yards on the ground and had a rushing touchdown for the second straight week.

• Quintez Cephus, WR (Lions): After playing a significant role in Detroit’s offense the first two weeks of the season, Cephus was forced back to the bench in Week 3. Number one receiver Kenny Golladay returned from injury, so Cephus saw all of his playing time on special teams. The fifth round pick played 44% of special teams snaps and recorded one tackle.
• Tyler Biadasz, C (Cowboys): Biadasz played the first significant snaps of his career for the Cowboys in Week 3. He logged 52 snaps (63%) at center and could be in for a bigger role if the Cowboys elect to move starting center Joe Looney over to guard moving forward, as they did on Sunday.

• Zack Baun, LB (Saints): For the second straight week Baun saw no snaps on defense, but he did play 47% of special teams snaps for the Saints on Sunday night.