Badgers See First Pro Action » Brats & Beer

August 23, 2006
posted under: Badgers in the NFL, Brandon Williams, Brian Calhoun, Jim Leonhard, Johnathan Orr, Lee Evans

Former Badger running back Brian Calhoun saw his first limited NFL action this past weekend with Detroit, getting two carries for one yard and catching two passes for six yards. His first touch came late in the second quarter on first down deep in Cleveland territory, but the play went for negative yardage. His second carry from scrimmage didn’t come until the fourth quarter when he gained two yards on a first down play. Not exactly a breakout debut, but it is the Lions after all.

Johnathan Orr also had his number called for the first time since signing with the Titans. The rookie wideout caught two passes for seven yards. Both catches came in the fourth quarter during a 90-yard drive engineered by Tennessee’s rookie quarterback Vince Young. Unfortunately, the Titans turned the ball over on downs after driving to the Broncos five yard line.

Finally, Brandon Williams showed off some of his mad skills in San Francisco’s tilt against Oakland, returning a couple kickoffs and punts. His first play came in the first quarter when he gathered in a punt and returned the ball five yards. He made another punt recovery in the second quarter, returning the ball seven yards. In the fourth quarter, though, Williams brought a kickoff out of the end zone for 33 yards, although the Niners couldn’t do anything with the good field position. His second kickoff return of the night went for 23 yards, which led to San Francisco’s first and only touchdown of the game. (Incidentally, quarterback Trent Dilfer was flagged for taunting after throwing a six-yard touchdown pass. Hilarious.)

Among former UW veterans in the NFL, Lee Evans probably had the biggest game in this round of the preseason, leading Buffalo with three catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in the Bills-Bengals score-fest. Jim Leonhard recorded an assist and a punt return in that game, while Jason Jefferson had a tackle.

Brooks Bollinger saw his first action of the preseason with the Jets, completing 10 of 16 passes for 69 yards. He also scrambled for 35 yards on five carries. No stats for rookie tight end Jason Pociask, though. Also in that game, John Hall kicked two extra points for the Redskins.

In Jacksonville’s game against Carolina, linebacker Nick Greisen had three tackles and two assists, while teammate Scott Starks also recorded three tackles. Down in Florida, wideout Chris Chambers caught two passes for 10 yards for the Dolphins, while tight end Mark Anelli caught one pass for nine yards for Tampa Bay. Quarterback Jim Sorgi struggled for a second week, going 0 for 2 in limited action for the Colts.

Among Iowa Staters in the NFL, Sage Rosenfels had another good game for the Texans, completing 6 of 9 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown against St. Louis. Seneca Wallace, meanwhile, completed 10 of 15 passes for 99 yards for the Seahawks. Third-year DL Jordan Carstens had a couple tackles for Carolina, and second-year corner Ellis Hobbs record a couple tackles for the Patriots. Rookie linebacker Tyson Smith saw action with the Giants and Tim Dobbins recorded a tackle with the Chargers.