Wisconsin may have come out of the 2026 NFL Draft without a single selection, but the Badgers still landed plenty of pro opportunities right after it ended. In all, 12 Wisconsin players signed on as undrafted free agents, a massive class by any standard, and preseason Week 1 gave the first real snapshot of how each one is trying to carve out a roster spot.
None of them has anything locked down yet. With the preseason serving as the main audition, every snap matters. Here’s how the group fared in their opening games:
Mason Reiger made the loudest impact of the bunch for the Miami Dolphins. He finished with two total tackles, including a sack on a free release to the quarterback. After not making much noise in training camp, that kind of play is exactly the sort of moment that can change the conversation.
Vinny Anthony II got work in two different roles for the Atlanta Falcons, lining up at wide receiver and handling kick returns. He brought back three kickoffs for 90 yards, including a long of 32 yards, and the other two returns were also solid. On offense, he was targeted three times and finished with one catch for five yards.
Darryl Peterson III took advantage of his chances for the Los Angeles Rams. He was active around the line of scrimmage and came away with five total tackles, one of them solo. That’s the kind of start that should earn him more looks as the preseason rolls on.
Nyzier Fourqurean also put himself on the radar for the Rams. After not being allowed to play for the Badgers last season, he stayed in shape while waiting for his shot, and Week 1 brought four tackles. For a player whose path to this point has already been unusual, that’s a strong opening step.
Ricardo Hallman, now with the Denver Broncos after originally being part of a 11-player UDFA group, got limited action but still managed to record a tackle against the Atlanta Falcons.
A few other Wisconsin defenders and linemen were quieter on the stat sheet. Lance Mason did not record any stats for the Seattle Seahawks against the Dallas Cowboys.
Austin Brown did not play for the Indianapolis Colts against the New England Patriots, though he had missed time in minicamps with an undisclosed injury and is not on the PUP list. Riley Mahlman saw preseason action for the Falcons, and for an offensive lineman, the lack of attention was a good sign.
Ben Barten, who started with the New York Giants before being cut and then signed by the Jets, had a tougher night. He played for New York against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finished with one tackle, but PFF also listed him among the Jets players who performed the worst in Week 1 of the preseason.
Jackson Acker was on the field for the Buffalo Bills but did not show up in the box score, which is not a major issue for a fullback. Parker Petersen mixed in for the Carolina Panthers and recorded two tackles against Buffalo. Jay'viar Suggs was available for the New Orleans Saints and played, but he also finished without a stat.
For a Wisconsin class that had to take the long road into the league, Week 1 offered a little bit of everything: a sack, a few strong tackling nights, some solid special-teams work, and a few quiet box scores that still leave the door open for more.
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Badgers Fans Got A Promising NFL Reminder From Four Former Standouts
A handful of former Wisconsin standouts made the preseason rounds over the weekend, giving Badgers fans a little reminder of the programs reach at the next level. Braelon Allen, Mason Reiger, Vinny Anthony II and Ricardo Hallman all saw limited action, but each found a way to show up on the stat sheet in a glimpse of what they can offer as pros.
Allen was the most eye-catching name in the group, while Reiger made an impression with a sack in limited snaps and Hallman logged a tackle soon after signing with the Denver Broncos. Anthony added value in the return game and also chipped in as a receiver, which is the sort of all-around usage that tends to keep a player in the conversation as roster decisions start to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
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Wisconsin Has A Fall Camp Battle Fans Should Feel Good About
Wisconsins fall camp has moved past its halfway point, and one of the more encouraging developments has been the battle at field cornerback between Jaimier Scott and Eric Fletcher. The two have been working almost neck and neck in practice, which has given the Badgers something they can usually never have enough of in August: a real position fight that looks like it is bringing out the best in both players.
Luke Fickell has made it clear the job is still open, and the expectation is that both Scott and Fletcher will have roles once the season starts. For Wisconsin, that kind of depth in the cornerback room matters almost as much as the winner of the competition itself, because it suggests the group has enough talent to keep pushing through camp instead of settling for a default answer. [Read more 🡒]