Wisconsin Professional Athletes

Jonathan Taylor Does Jonathan Taylor Things

Wisconsin's most celebrated NFL export reminded everyone why he's still one of the league's premier backs Sunday. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 95 yards and punched in two touchdowns as the Indianapolis Colts rolled past the Washington Commanders 30-13. Daniel Jones added a rushing score for Indy, but Taylor was the engine — and he wasn't done talking. Ahead of a Week 5 matchup with Pittsburgh, Taylor sent the Steelers a blunt warning, promising to "make them pay" if the defense keyed too hard on stopping him. The Steelers, for their part, were busy plotting how to contain him, leaning on a rookie safety as a potential difference-maker. Two Badger alumni on a collision course.

T.J. Watt and a Steelers Meltdown

The Taylor-Pittsburgh subplot got extra juice from what was happening inside the Steelers' locker room. Pittsburgh dropped a 27-24 decision to the Cleveland Browns, and T.J. Watt wasn't hiding his frustration. The All-Pro linebacker was visibly heated on the sideline, directed at teammates and coaching staff alike. Watt later explained the outburst publicly — but the underlying message was clear: he's tired of talking about the team's struggles and wants results. With Taylor and the Colts on deck, Watt's edge heading into Week 5 was the only good news Pittsburgh's defense could point to.

Fellow Badger and Steelers pass rusher Nick Herbig also drew attention this week, though of a different kind. Despite modest box-score numbers through the early season, analysts argued Herbig has been quietly effective and deserves more snaps — a slow-burn story worth watching as Pittsburgh fights to stay relevant in the AFC.

Zack Baun: From Concussion Protocol to Trade Rumors

In Philadelphia, Zack Baun's week was a whirlwind. The Eagles linebacker had missed Week 4's loss to the Los Angeles Rams after entering the NFL's concussion protocol — part of an injury avalanche that has buried Philly's season hopes. The good news: Baun was cleared from protocol by Friday and was expected to suit up for Week 5 against Jacksonville in London.

The bad news didn't stop there, though. With losses piling up and the injury list growing, Sports Illustrated reported that the Eagles could explore trading Baun if the season continues to unravel. A fire sale isn't guaranteed, but the mere fact that it's being discussed publicly signals how quickly Philadelphia's window has clouded over.

Elsewhere in Badger Country

In Green Bay, veteran guard Kevin Zeitler — a Wisconsin alum now on his latest NFL stop — crept closer to his Packers debut. After being kept inactive in Week 4, practice reports from Oct. 7 showed Zeitler working as Green Bay's starting right guard, with head coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich offering cautiously optimistic updates about his availability for the Bears game.

In New York, running back Braelon Allen carried for 59 rushing yards and added two catches in the Jets' 23-12 loss to the Bears — a bright individual spot in a forgettable team performance. Allen also spoke publicly about his confidence in the Jets' playoff outlook and Breece Hall's role in the backfield.

And in Dallas, tight end Jake Ferguson had a pair of modest receiving games (three catches, 11 yards vs. Houston; three catches, 19 yards vs. Tampa Bay on Thursday), but won a more entertaining battle off the field: the NFL rescinded his $13,611 fine for "imitation of shotgunning a beer" during a touchdown celebration after Ferguson brought receipts to his appeal.

Classic Badger energy.

Leo Chenal's Year Is Over — and It Could Have Been Much Worse

The most alarming moment involving a Wisconsin alumnus this week had nothing to do with a scoreboard. Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal was carted off the field on a stretcher during Washington's 33-31 Week 3 win over the Seattle Seahawks after suffering a neck fracture — the kind of injury that silences a stadium and puts football in immediate perspective.

Chenal subsequently underwent season-ending surgery, and in the days that followed offered a measure of relief to those who watched it unfold in real time: the procedure, he said, "went well." The recovery road ahead is long, but the prognosis appears favorable. Still, the loss is significant for the Commanders' linebacker room, which now looks markedly different. With Frankie Luvu returning from a two-game absence, Washington will lean on Sonny Styles' expanded role and Kain Medrano's emergence to fill the void Chenal leaves behind.

For Badger fans, it's a gut punch. Chenal, a Madison product drafted by Washington in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, had established himself as a reliable presence at the second level of one of the league's more aggressive defenses. His season — and his health — will be watched closely through the offseason.

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Taylor Takes His Show to London

On a considerably brighter note, Jonathan Taylor is preparing to headline one of the NFL's marquee international showcases. The Colts (1-2) travel to London for a Week 4 matchup against the Washington Commanders, with Taylor positioned as the centerpiece of Indianapolis's offensive attack.

Taylor ran for 68 yards and added two catches in last week's narrow 19-17 win over the Texans — a performance that helped the Colts escape with their first victory of the season. Now, with a prime transatlantic spotlight on the game, Taylor enters as the most recognizable name on either side of the ball. CBS Sports pegged the contest as a potential high-scoring affair, noting that both teams carry two of the NFL's worst defenses into the matchup. That sets up nicely for a workhorse back. Sports Illustrated's Colts betting preview singled out Taylor as the top prop to target for the London game.

Separately, Colts safety Hunter Wohler — another Wisconsin product — was also active in the Week 3 win over Houston, giving Badger Nation a pair of representatives in the London travel party.

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Around the League

Elsewhere, it was a mixed week for Wisconsin's sizable NFL footprint:

Zack Baun (Eagles, LB) was ruled out for Philadelphia's Week 4 game against the Rams with a concussion, a notable absence given his role in one of the league's top defenses.

Braelon Allen (Jets, RB) logged 14 rushing yards and three catches in New York's 31-24 loss to Detroit. With starter Breece Hall exiting that game with a quad injury and listed as week-to-week, Allen's role in the Jets' backfield is set to expand considerably in the coming weeks.

T.J. Watt (Steelers, LB) continued his steady production with a sack in Pittsburgh's Thursday night loss to Cleveland, while T.J. Edwards (Bears, LB) picked off a pass in Chicago's dominant 27-7 win over the Eagles on Monday night.

Kevin Zeitler (Packers, G) is in a race against the clock to make his Green Bay debut in Week 4 against Tampa Bay, with injuries to two other guards pushing the ex-Pro Bowler toward a potential starting role after just three practices with his new team.

Jake Ferguson had himself a week — in more ways than one.

The Wisconsin tight end hauled in four catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns in Dallas's 37-20 blowout of Washington on Sunday, matching CeeDee Lamb's scoring output as Dak Prescott finished with four TD passes. It was the kind of performance that cements Ferguson's status as one of the better tight ends in the NFC — and he let the Commanders know it.

That's where the trouble started.

The NFL fined Ferguson for unsportsmanlike conduct after he mimicked shotgunning a beer during a second-quarter celebration. The league cited "illegal celebrations and vulgar acts," officially logging the incident at the 9:59 mark of the second quarter. Ferguson joins a growing list of players dinged early in the 2026 season for celebrations the NFL has deemed over the line — a crackdown that has drawn sharp criticism from fans and media alike, with many pointing to the league's simultaneous embrace of alcohol sponsorships as glaring hypocrisy.

Cowboys fans, for their part, aren't losing sleep over it. Ferguson scored twice. The Cowboys won by 17. The beer pantomime was, by any reasonable measure, worth it.

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Elsewhere Around the League

Jonathan Taylor put together a strong showing in a heartbreaker for Indianapolis. The Colts RB rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas City and added four catches for 40 yards, helping Indy build a second-half lead and force overtime — before a Harrison Butker field goal ended it 33-30. Taylor did his part; the Colts just couldn't finish.

On the other side of that Cowboys-Commanders game, Leo Chenal and Washington's defense had a rough afternoon. The Commanders fell to 0-2, and Chenal was flagged as one of the team's underperformers through the first two weeks of the season.

In Pittsburgh, T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig remain a rare bright spot for a Steelers team that dropped to 0-2 with a 20-3 loss to New England. PFF ranked the pair among the NFL's top pass rushers through two weeks — cold comfort given the scoreline, but a signal that Pittsburgh's defensive edge remains elite even when the offense stalls. Separately, Keeanu Benton is facing potential punishment from the league for a hit on Patriots QB Drake Maye in the same game.

Braelon Allen chipped in a rushing touchdown for the Jets in a 20-17 loss to Green Bay, while Andrew Van Ginkel and T.J. Edwards found themselves on opposite sides of a sluggish 9-3 Vikings win over the Bears — Van Ginkel notching a sack for Minnesota, Edwards enduring a tough afternoon in Chicago's stagnant offense.

Finally, Hayden Rucci got his shot with the Chargers after Los Angeles was decimated at the tight end position, signing to the active roster following the placement of Charlie Kolar and David Njoku on injured reserve. The former Badger now figures to see real snaps in LA's offense going forward.

Ferguson's week — two touchdowns, one fine, zero regrets — was the headliner. But there was no shortage of Badgers making noise across the league.

Wisconsin alumni didn't just show up in NFL Week 1 — they made history, earned hardware, and put up numbers. From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to Indianapolis, the Badger footprint across the league was impossible to ignore.

T.J. Watt: History Made in Steel City

The headliner was T.J. Watt, and it wasn't close. The Steelers linebacker put together one of the most complete defensive performances of his already-decorated career in Pittsburgh's 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, recording four tackles, two sacks, and a game-sealing pick-six off Cooper Rush that made NFL history — joining Julius Peppers as the only players to accomplish the feat. The pick-six was the ultimate difference-maker in Aaron Rodgers' and Mike McCarthy's emotional Pittsburgh coaching debut.

The NFL took notice. Watt was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, a recognition that doubles as a warning shot to the rest of the league heading into Week 2. His PFF grade from the performance drew widespread attention, with analysts pointing to it as validation for Steelers fans who have long argued Watt remains the best defensive player in the game.

Zack Baun Puts the NFC on Notice

Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Zack Baun was busy collecting his own hardware. The Eagles linebacker earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a clutch outing against the Washington Commanders in a tight 24-22 win. Baun was disruptive throughout, excelling in both pass coverage and run support — and his biggest moment came on the final drive, when he tipped a pass that could have swung the game. The Eagles escaped, and Baun walked away with the recognition to match the performance.

Inside the Eagles' locker room afterward, Baun made his intentions clear: he wants to be the best linebacker in the game, full stop. Through one week, he's making a compelling argument.

Jonathan Taylor Reminds Everyone He's Elite

Jonathan Taylor's Colts lost a tough one to Baltimore, 41-23, but the Wisconsin running back gave Indianapolis faithful something to feel good about. Taylor churned out 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, adding three catches for 23 receiving yards. Even in defeat, Taylor was the engine — a reminder that when the Colts' offense is humming, it runs through him.

Melvin Gordon III Earns His Flowers

Off the field, Melvin Gordon III received perhaps the most meaningful recognition of the week. The two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest Badgers to ever suit up. Gordon, now 33 and on the Ravens' roster, spoke about what makes the honor uniquely special — a nod to the Madison roots that launched a long and decorated career.

Around the League

Andrew Van Ginkel quietly reminded the Vikings why he deserves a contract extension, turning in one of Minnesota's most impactful Week 1 performances — including a sack — in a dominant 39-22 win over Green Bay. Braelon Allen chipped in 40 rushing yards for the Jets in their 23-10 win over Tennessee, showing promise in the Hall-Allen backfield tandem that head coach Aaron Glenn is working to unlock. Jake Ferguson had a quiet two-catch, six-yard night in Dallas's 28-20 loss to the Giants, one of the few Badgers who will want a do-over before Week 2 arrives.

More Badgers in Action

Keeanu Benton suited up for Pittsburgh in the win over Atlanta, and Nick Herbig was also active for the Steelers. Leo Chenal played for Washington in their narrow loss to Philadelphia, and T.J. Edwards took the field for Chicago in their Week 1 outing.