Wisconsin’s 2026 NFL class didn’t exactly hit the ground running. Not a single former Badger from last year’s team landed on an active 53-man roster, and while a few players pushed hard for those final spots, every one of them ended up on the outside looking in. Most of the 12 former Badgers who were in the mix cleared waivers and settled onto practice squads.
That doesn’t mean the door is shut for good. Over a 17-week season, roster churn is part of the business.
Injuries pile up. Depth gets tested.
Players get cut, traded, suspended or simply underperform. When that happens, practice-squad players get their shot.
For this group, three names stand out as the most likely to be next in line.
Vinny Anthony II looks like the clearest bet.
The 23-year-old receiver put together a strong camp and showed off the kind of versatility that can keep a coaching staff interested. That was enough for many to believe he’d stick on the active roster right away. Instead, the Atlanta Falcons went another way, waived him, and then brought him back on the practice squad.
Still, Anthony’s case isn’t going away. He can play himself into the conversation if the Falcons get hit in the receiver room, if their kick returner struggles, or if special teams need a boost. That kind of flexibility is exactly what keeps a player on the radar.
After Anthony, the list gets thinner fast, but Darryl Peterson has the kind of preseason production that makes people pay attention.
The Los Angeles Rams edge rusher, who is the brother of the second overall pick in the NBA draft, made the most of his limited snaps. He finished the preseason with two sacks and a game-winning forced fumble, a strong showing by any standard.
Breaking into that Rams defensive line will not be easy, though. The group is one of the best in the league, which makes actual game reps hard to come by.
Even so, Peterson could be the kind of player who gets the nod for a game or two when a team needs help on special teams or in a specialist role.
Then there’s Nyzier Fourqurean, who may have turned in the best preseason of any former Badger.
Across the games, Fourqurean posted eight tackles, a forced fumble and a pass deflection. He was steady in coverage, too, and showed the same traits he flashed at Wisconsin can carry over at the next level.
The problem is the same one Peterson faces: the Rams’ roster path is crowded and unforgiving. A call-up is possible, but for now that appears to be the ceiling unless the right opening comes along.
For Wisconsin fans looking for a reason to keep one eye on the practice squad, those are the three names to watch.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Has 3 Freshmen Who Could Matter Right Away Against Notre Dame
For most of the offseason chatter around Wisconsins 2026 recruiting class, the attention naturally landed on quarterback Ryan Hopkins. But as fall camp has unfolded, a few other true freshmen have started to push their way into the conversation, and that matters with Notre Dame on the horizon. Wide receiver Brock, tight end Sievers and defensive player Dunmore have each shown enough promise to put themselves in position for early snaps, even if their first impact is more likely to come on special teams or in limited rotational work.
That kind of contribution may not make headlines in September, but it can still shape a season, especially against a matchup that will demand clean execution and depth from the Badgers. Coaches have liked what theyve seen from the trios work ethic and intelligence, and those traits often translate fastest when young players are asked to do the little things well. Wisconsin is still early in the process of finding out exactly how much it can trust them, but the fact they are already in the mix says plenty about the opportunity in front of them. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Freeman Just Sent Wisconsin Fans A Needed Reminder At Lambeau
An intriguing subplot is already building around the upcoming game at Lambeau Field, where Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman and Wisconsin's Luke Fickell will meet as head coaches for the first time. Their connection runs deeper than a one-off matchup, with Freeman having played for Fickell and later coached under him, which gives this game a familiar edge even before the teams take the field. Freeman made sure to reinforce that point during his Week 1 press conference, offering clear respect for Wisconsin and the roster Fickell has put together.
From a Badgers perspective, the praise landed as a useful reminder that this is not a program being overlooked by those who know the sport best. Freeman singled out quarterback Colton Joseph along with linebackers Mason Posa and Sebastian Cheeks, which says plenty about where the attention is heading as the game approaches. With both coaches now leading their own programs, the matchup carries the feel of a reunion and a measuring-stick moment at the same time, and Wisconsin fans have reason to believe their team is being taken seriously. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Quietly Building Something Important Before The 2026 Season
Wisconsins offseason staffing move may not have generated much noise outside the program, but it is the kind of hire that can matter a lot when a football staff is trying to get organized for the long haul. The Badgers brought in Marcus Berry as Senior Director of Personnel Strategy, adding a veteran front-office voice with more than 25 years of experience in college and NFL personnel work. Berry arrives from Temple, where he served as Chief of Staff and Director of Player Personnel, and his background suggests Wisconsin is putting real emphasis on the machinery behind roster building.
It is also notable timing for a program entering a new administrative era, since Berry is one of the first football hires under Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst. For Wisconsin, the move points to a broader effort to sharpen how the Badgers evaluate and manage personnel before the 2026 season arrives, with the kind of behind-the-scenes infrastructure that can shape recruiting, retention and roster planning. The hire does not answer every question about where the program is headed, but it does show Wisconsin is taking a deliberate step toward building something more organized beneath the surface. [Read more 🡒]