How did former Badgers do in the NFL during Week 16?
One of the tasks that I’ve chosen with Bucky’s 5th Quarter is chronicling the NFL performances for all the Wisconsin Badgers playing in The League every week.
So, here’s what we saw from our lads in Week 16. Spoiler: it was a rough week for Jake Ferguson.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Wisconsin of the NFL)
T.J. Watt: 3 tackles, 3 hits, 2 hurries, a battled ball, and a sack. Just another day at the office for the NFL’s leader in sacks with jaw-dropping defensive plays.
Keeanu Benton: 2 hurries, a tackle, and a sterling 89.9 PFF grade for the outstanding rookie.
Nick Herbig: 3 tackles and 1 hurry across 17 snaps.
Isaiahh Loudermilk: 1 QB hit in 13 snaps.
Jake Ferguson: While Jake’s 4-catch, 45-yard game was hardly a statistical disaster, winning is his No. 1 goal and Dallas’s performance Sunday against the Dolphins didn’t get it done.
Tyler Biadasz: Allowed 2 hits and a hurry, but zero sacks in 66 snaps in a solid overall performance.
Alec Ingold: 2 catches for 12 yards and some teeth-rattling blocks.
Andrew Van Ginkel: The Notorious AVG was cooking vs Jake and the Cowboys, with a Christmas feast of a game: 2 sacks, 7 tackles, 5 hurries, 2 hits, and a batted ball, to go along with an incredible 91.7 PFF grade.
He’s definitely on Cowboys fans’ naughty list. As noted by Dolphins Wire, Van Ginkel, Aidan Hutchinson, and T.J. Watt are the only players with at least four sacks, five passes defended, one interception, seven tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits this year.
Jonathan Taylor: He wasn’t at his best with 18 carries for 43 yards and a score (and no catches), but the fact that he was out there after a multi-week injury was a good sign. Better weeks are nigh for JT.
Zack Baun: A disappointing 9 snaps, which resulted in just a single tackle. The Saints could have used him as they were getting worked over by the Rams’ offense.
Ryan Ramsczyk: Did not play due to a knee injury.
T.J. Edwards: 6 tackles and a QB hurry in a win over the Cardinals. TJ enters Week 17 No. 7 in tackles in the league with a robust 143 to go along with 7 TFLs and 2.5 sacks.
Jack Sanborn: A lone QB hurry in only 7 snaps apparently playing for a DC who doesn’t recognize talent as well as he should.
Russell Wilson: Went 25/37 for 238 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INT with an additional 25 yards on the ground, but suffered a nightmarish home loss to the horrific Patriots, which everyone will blame on Russ. Update: The Broncos DID blame it on Russ and are benching him for the last two games.
Matt Henningsen: 2 tackles on 16 snaps for the smartest player in the NFL.
Joe Tippmann: A whopping 90 sack, hit, and hurry-free snaps in an outstanding game (outside of one bad snap) for the Jets rookie Badger. It’s becoming clear that he has a bright future ahead of him in New York.
Rob Havenstein: An outstanding 87.1 PFF grade on his way to allowing zero sacks or hits.
Leo Chenal: 3 tackles and a hit in a ghastly home loss to the Raiders that has all kinds of wild rumors swirling around KC.
Kevin Zeitler: Allowed only 1 QB hurry in 57 snaps with a near dominant 84.4 PFF pass-blocking grade.
Michael Deiter: MD’s renaissance season continued, with 75 sack and hit free snaps.
Dare Ugunbowale: One tote for 6 yards to go along with a dominant 86.0 PFF pass blocking grade.
Alex Erickson: 2 catches for 36 yards in a tight loss to the Bills on Christmas Eve.
David Edwards: An elite 90.3 PFF grade in limited duty for the Bills.