Wisconsin Professional Athletes

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.

Wisconsin's NFL alumni made noise in the final stretch of roster cutdown week, with Jonathan Taylor securing his financial future and Jack Sanborn fighting his way onto a 53-man roster.

Taylor Locks In With Indianapolis

The biggest story out of Badger Nation this week has nothing to do with a tryout or a depth chart — it's a $44 million vote of confidence. The Indianapolis Colts signed running back Jonathan Taylor to a two-year, $44 million contract extension, with incentives that could push the total value to $47 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Taylor, 27, is coming off a 2025 season in which he carried the ball 323 times for 1,585 rushing yards across all 17 games — a punishing workload that the Colts have now bet heavily on sustaining.

The extension quiets any lingering uncertainty about Taylor's long-term home in Indianapolis and reaffirms his standing as one of the NFL's premier backs. NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter has already gone on record predicting Taylor will surpass 2,000 rushing yards in 2026, a mark that would make NFL history. Others, however, have flagged that kind of carry volume as a regression risk. Either way, Taylor is getting paid — and Wisconsin fans have every reason to keep their eyes on Lucas Oil Stadium this fall.

Sanborn Earns His Spot in Chicago

While Taylor's deal was the marquee moment, Jack Sanborn delivered a quieter but meaningful win of his own. The Bears re-signed the linebacker and added him to Chicago's 53-man roster following the team's final cutdown moves. The move came alongside the signing of defensive tackle James Lynch as the Bears also placed cornerback Coby Bryant and tight end Hayden Large on injured reserve.

Sanborn, a former undrafted free agent out of Madison, has carved out his NFL career the hard way — earning roster spots through camp performance rather than draft pedigree. Landing on the 53 heading into Week 1 is the reward for that grind. Fellow Badger T.J. Edwards also remains on Chicago's roster after the Bears restructured his contract earlier in the offseason to free up cap space, meaning Wisconsin has multiple linebackers in the Windy City heading into the 2026 season.

Around the Rest of Badger Country

Elsewhere, Andrew Van Ginkel earned a team captain designation with the Minnesota Vikings — one of just three defensive players honored with the title heading into the new season. It's a significant recognition for the former Wisconsin pass-rusher, who has grown into a leadership role in Minnesota after establishing himself as one of the more versatile edge defenders in the NFC.

In Dallas, tight end Jake Ferguson's contract was restructured as part of a broader Cowboys salary-cap maneuver that cleared more than $19 million in space. Ferguson remains a key piece of the Cowboys' offense; the restructure was a financial move, not a roster signal.

And in Jacksonville, Hayden Rucci — a Wisconsin tight end and third-generation NFL player — signed with the Jaguars' practice squad, continuing a family football lineage that stretches back two generations.

It was, in short, a week that reminded the league just how wide Wisconsin's NFL footprint runs.

Tyler Biadasz never got a snap in.

The Los Angeles Chargers placed the Wisconsin center on season-ending injured reserve this week, cutting short a 2026 campaign that had barely begun. Biadasz, a key offseason acquisition for Los Angeles, is now out for the entire year — a brutal blow for both player and franchise.

It's a cruel twist for the former Badger, who spent four seasons as the Cowboys' starting center before landing in L.A. this offseason with the expectation of anchoring the Chargers' offensive line. Instead, he joins the IR list before a single regular-season game is played, leaving the Chargers scrambling at one of the most critical positions on the field.

Los Angeles has fellow Wisconsin alumnus Alec Ingold on the roster at fullback, and the Chargers will need every healthy body they can get as they try to manage the fallout up front. Yahoo Sports highlighted Ingold this week as one of the team's "hidden gem" contributors heading into the season — one of the few bright spots in what has otherwise been a rough preseason stretch for L.A.

For Badger Nation, the broader picture

Biadasz's injury is the most significant Wisconsin alumni news of the week, but the program continues to have one of the deepest footprints in the NFL. More than 40 former Badgers are on active rosters heading into the 2026 season, spanning every position group and franchise.

The offensive line pipeline remains particularly strong. Rob Havenstein anchors the Rams' right tackle spot. Jonathan Taylor — one of the most decorated running backs in program history — is entering another season with the Colts. T.J. Watt remains among the league's most feared edge rushers in Pittsburgh. And Zack Baun, who carved out a standout role with the Eagles, is back for another run in Philadelphia.

The Biadasz situation is a reminder of how quickly an NFL season can change — and how much roster depth matters. Wisconsin's NFL community is large enough that the program rarely lacks for storylines, but losing a starting-caliber center before Week 1 stings regardless of what else is going right.

Biadasz's timeline for recovery has not been publicly detailed. The Chargers have not announced what injury landed him on IR.