Wide receiver Elijhah Badger wasn’t able to stick with the Kansas City Chiefs after joining as an undrafted free agent last season, but has now found his place in the UFL.
Badger flashed some potential in the preseason for the Chiefs but was released at the final roster cutdowns and wasn’t added to the practice squad. He signed with the UFL’s Orlando Storm this season and has been the league’s top receiver through the first two weeks.
Former Chiefs Receiver Showing Off Ability in UFL
Badger has shown off his speed and route-running ability in the UFL, making nine receptions for 186 yards with one touchdown through the first two weeks of the season.
As Ed Easton Jr. of USA Today’s Chiefs Wire noted, Badger is connecting well with quarterback Jack Plummer while leading the Storm to a league-best 2-0 record. Easton added that Badger came to the Chiefs with a strong college resume.
Badger had a bizarre game-winning play in Orlando’s second victory, securing a walk-off holding call. The UFL holds a shootout-style overtime, with each team alternating plays from the 5-yard line. The Storm and Louisville Kings each went scoreless through the first round, with the Storm drawing a defensive penalty but failing to score.
But when Badger drew another holding penalty on a later attempt, it trigged an automatic win as defensive teams are not allowed to commit two penalties in overtime.
“It’s unfortunate for us, because we came out on the (wrong) end of that, but those are the rules that we have,” said Louisville coach Chris Redman, via the Courier-Journal. “… That’s something out of our control; all we can do is go out there and play hard, play aggressive. And, unfortunately, we had two aggressive penalties in the end.”
Elijhah Badger Seen as Intriguing NFL Prospect
NFL.com expert Lance Zierlein noted before last year’s NFL draft that Badger had plenty of natural talent, but also some shortcomings he would need to address to succeed at the highest level.
“There are times where Badger looks like the youngster on the playground whoâs a grade older than everyone else and able to do whatever he wants,” Zierlein wrote. “Heâs on the lighter side and wonât outrun NFL coverage but the game comes naturally for him. His route running can be effective but needs better detail and urgency. He has above-average ball skills to track throws and win in tight spaces or pluck the ball from outside his frame. Heâs slippery with the ball in his hands and can handle kick returns. If he can handle more physical NFL coverage, he has the talent to become a WR3.”
Badger went undrafted but signed with the Chiefs, telling reporters at the team’s rookie minicamp that it was his dream to play in the NFL.
“This is my dream, obviously, to make it to the NFL. So, every day going to work, it just feels good to be back with a team. Just feels good,” he said. “But like it was just work I put in, just coming in every day, you learn to play book, getting the playbook down fast, and just to do day by day and just make consistent.”
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