4 thoughts from 4 different NFL Badgers 2026 preseason debut

It was an eventful day in the NFL preseason for Wisconsin Badger fandom, as three alumni made their unofficial NFL debuts today, while another Badger legend made his return to the limelight. It was a refreshing reminder for Badger fans that even after one of the worst seasons in modern program history, Wisconsin is still capable of putting capable players in the NFL.

With that said, each of the four played limited roles in vastly different fashions, giving fans and media little to work with. However, all of them showed flashes of who they could be in their limited snaps, giving us a large enough sample to take something away from each.

Braelon Allen Is Ready for a Breakout Season

Although Braelon Allen only saw the field for three sets of downs, he did the most with the little opportunity he had. It only took three carries for Allen to finally break one loose, taking an inside-zone handoff and bouncing it outside before breaking free from the pack for a 31-yard touchdown.

He got just one more carry after that, taking it up the middle for a yard, but nonetheless did his work. Allen finished with 44 total yards, which was 28 more than New York Jets starting running back Breece Hall, who logged just 16. It will still be a dogfight for him to earn his reps in the backfield, but his outing was undoubtedly enough to put some validity behind his name, which had picked up some buzz in training camp.

Mason Reiger Is a Gamer

After a rookie minicamp that saw Mason Reiger's name pick up a fair amount of steam, things had seemingly died down through actual training camp. However, one of the great things about the preseason is that it provides an opportunity for virtually anyone to make their mark, and Reiger did just that.

The rookie logged two total tackles and one sack in extremely limited snaps, once again proving he can make an impact any time he gets on the field. Throughout the rest of the preseason, Reiger should get more opportunities to prove his worth, but for the time being, he does what he always does and produces in the chances he gets.

Vinny Anthony II Deserves Better

After going undrafted last spring, former Wisconsin receiver Vinny Anthony II has done nothing but turn heads in camp. The 6-foot gadget guy has done it all, much like he did in Madison, building a fair amount of hype for himself heading into his first preseason game. However, things didn't exactly go to plan, as although Anthony by no means played badly, he didn't exactly get a chance to prove himself to the fullest extent.

He did his thing on kick return, bringing back three kicks for 90 yards, including a 32-yard return. However, he wasn't given much of a chance offensively, hauling in just one of his three targets for five yards. The main culprit for that was his quarterback play, as the group combined for 134 yards, two interceptions and zero touchdowns. Not the best night for the crew.

Nonetheless, he did the most with what he could and proved once again that he deserves a spot on the 53-man roster.

Ricardo Hallman Needs Some Time

A former Wisconsin star who saw a steady fall from fame throughout his college tenure got his chance to prove himself in the NFL, getting signed by the Denver Broncos not too long ago. With that said, his short stint with the Broncos created a path to limited opportunity, as Hallman logged just one tackle.

Not much can be taken away from what he did other than holding his own in the reps he got. Badger fans should keep an eye on him throughout the rest of the preseason.

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