How every former Wisconsin football player fared in Week 1 of the NFL Preseason
There were plenty of former Wisconsin football players in action in the first week of the NFL preseason. Here's how they fared.
Week 1 of the NFL preseason just wrapped up, and there were plenty of former Wisconsin football players in action, tuning up for the regular season, working their way up the depth chart, or just fighting for a spot on the roster.
NFL teams view the preseason in different ways. Some make sure their starters get plenty of reps to prepare for the upcoming season, while others barely play their star players, if at all. So we may not see players like T.J. Watt or Jonathan Taylor take a snap until Week 1 of the regular season, but there were still a handful of Badgers in action that we could all watch. If you missed it or don’t really care to watch a random preseason game (I get it), I’ve got you covered.
Here is how former Wisconsin football players fared in Week 1 of the preseason.
Thursday, August 7th
Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens
S Hunter Wohler - Indianapolis Colts
The former defensive star for the Badgers made some waves in the Colts’ joint practice with the Ravens in the week leading up to this game. He snagged a pair of interceptions during practice, picking off the reigning NFL MVP, Lamar Jackson, and then his backup, Cooper Rush, just a few plays later.
Wohler got the start on defense and was immediately making plays. In just 34 total snaps, Wohler tallied seven total tackles, according to PFF. He gave up just one reception while in coverage for seven years.
Wohler has been making a name for himself and showing that he was a steal in the seventh round.
OC Tanor Bortolini- Indianapolis Colts
Bortolini is competing for the starting center spot for the Colts with Danny Pinter. According to PFF, Bortolini logged 38 snaps with the Colts’ first team on Thursday night. He had a penalty on the first drive of the game, getting called for an ineligible man downfield on a tight end screen pass to Tyler Warren.
RB Jonathan Taylor- Indianapolis Colts
Did not play.
Friday, August 8th
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Philadelphia Eagles
WR Kedric Pryor - Cincinnati Bengals
The former Wisconsin receiver got 15 snaps in the Bengals’ loss to the Eagles. He was targeted once but ended the night without a reception.
LB Maema Njongmeta - Cincinnati Bengals
Njongmeta enjoyed a nice night for himself. He played in just 18 defensive snaps, but in limited action, he had five total tackles and a pass deflection in coverage. Maema is fighting for a spot on Cincinnati’s final 53-man roster. He is currently a third-string linebacker with Joe Giles-Harris on the Bengals’ first preseason depth chart.
LB Zack Baun - Philadelphia Eagles
Did not play.
Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons
OL Jack Nelson - Atlanta Falcons
The rookie offensive lineman started at right tackle for the Falcons despite being listed as the third-string right tackle on the Falcons’ first preseason depth chart. He struggled a bit in pass protection, giving up three pressures on pass-blocking snaps. He also had a holding penalty.
Washington Commanders vs. New England Patriots
OC Tyler Biadasz - Washington Commanders
Did not play.
OL Michael Deiter - Washington Commanders
While Deiter didn’t start for the Commanders, he logged 54 snaps between center (37 snaps) and right guard (17). He didn’t allow a sack or pressure all game. Deiter is currently listed as the backup center to Tyler Biadasz.
Saturday, August 9th
New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills
QB Russell Wilson- New York Giants
Wilson got the start but only played one possession, completing 6-of-7 passes for 28 yards, leading the Giants to a field goal.
OL David Edwards - Buffalo Bills
Edwards started at right guard for the Bills and played 14 snaps. He gave up one pressure, which ended in the quarterback getting hit, but he did not give up a sack.
Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings
RB Dare Ogunbowale - Houston Texans
The NFL journeyman has had a knack for sticking around and making NFL rosters by being a special teams ace, but he has had some success as a backup running back as well. Right now, he is RB3 on the Texans’ unofficial depth chart, but that doesn’t include starting RB Joe Mixon.
He had limited snaps in the Texans’ first preseason game, but he performed well. He had five carries for 29 yards and graded out well according to PFF.
WR Quintez Cephus - Houston Texans
The former Wisconsin football receiver played 14 snaps. He tallied just one target and no receptions.
LB Andrew Van Ginkel - Minnesota Vikings
Did not play.
OL Joe Huber - Minnesota Vikings
Huber signed with the Vikings as an undrafted rookie following the draft. He is listed as a backup left guard on the Vikings’ unofficial depth chart, fighting for the backup spot behind rookie offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (Ohio State).
The Vikings got a good look at Huber, who logged 55 offensive snaps at right guard and, despite giving up a sack and a pair of pressures, graded out very well on PFF. He had an ‘elite’ grade in overall offensive (94.7) and run blocking (93.9), making him the top player in both categories on the team.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
LB T.J. Watt - Pittsburgh Steelers
Did not play.
LB Nick Herbig - Pittsburgh Steelers
Did not play.
DL Isaiahh Loudermilk - Pittsburgh Steelers
Loudermilk played 29 snaps and logged just one tackle.
DL Keeanu Benton - Pittsburgh Steelers
Started for the Steelers but played in just eight snaps and didn’t register a tackle.
OL Cole Van Lanen - Jacksonville Jaguars
Did not play. Will miss the rest of the preseason.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
TE Jake Ferguson - Dallas Cowboys
Did not play.
LB Jack Sanborn - Dallas Cowboys
Did not play.
OL Rob Havenstein - Los Angeles Rams
Did not play.
Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
OL Kevin Zeitler - Tennessee Titans
Did not play.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals
LB Leo Chenal - Kansas City Chiefs
Chenal started at middle linebacker for the Chiefs and played just eight snaps. He didn’t record a tackle but gave up a catch in coverage that went for 15 yards.
WR Bryson Green - Arizona Cardinals
Green played 15 snaps for the Cardinals in their preseason opener but did not receive a target.
New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers
RB Braelon Allen - New York Jets
Braelon Allen logged just 15 snaps but got eight carries for 33 yards, including a 14-yard burst on his first carry of the game.
OG Joe Tippmann - New York Jets
Tippmann was the starting center for the Jets last year, but with the team signing former Packers center Josh Myers, Tippmann started at left guard against the Packers. He played in 10 snaps with the starters and didn’t give up a single pressure.
Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers
DL Matt Henningsen - Denver Broncos
Did not play. Henningsen tore his Achilles in the team’s joint practice leading up to the game. He will be out for the remainder of the year.
QB Tanner Mordecai - San Francisco 49ers
Mordecai, who recently re-signed with the 49ers after being released by the team, struggled in his small amount of playing time. He completed just 3-of-6 passes for 21 yards and threw an interception.
Sunday, August 10th
Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins
LB T.J. Edwards - Chicago Bears
Did not play.
FB Alec Ingold - Miami Dolphins
Did not play.
TE Hayden Rucci - Miami Dolphins
The former Wisconsin tight end signed with the Dolphins last season as an undrafted rookie and made the practice squad.
Rucci logged 22 snaps in which he was used primarily as a blocker. He did not receive a reception or a target.
CB Jason Maitre - Miami Dolphins
Did not play. Placed on IR at OTAs.
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