After suffering both a loss and injuries, the Wisconsin Badgers will need to fully evaluate the team during the bye before squaring off against Michigan.
Wisconsin entered the game against the Maryland Terrapins in Madison as 10.5-point favorites to win the game, which had been labeled as a must-win contest. However, the Badgers failed to muster any sort of momentum of offense as starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. again suffered a knee injury and backup Danny O’Neil also exited the game with an injury.
Wisconsin has been heading down a dangerous path regarding injury with many players opting to play through different tweaks. Many of these decisions proved costly, with center Jake Renfro missing additional time after playing injured and now Edwards Jr. having to shut himself down against Maryland.
For the Wisconsin Badgers, the week off may give many players some much needed time to recover, but many players likely will not have enough rest to return back to full strength.
Wisconsin Badgers Quarterbacks Billy Edwards Jr., Danny O’Neil Both Likely Will Not be 100% Against Michigan
For Edwards Jr., a long lasting knee injury that has been lingering since before the start of the season and has been tweaked multiple times will likely not heal during the bye week, even if movement is limited. Edwards Jr. needs an extended period of no movement or activity in order to properly return back to full health, and the quarterback and Badgers’ staff have not been able to do that.
The starting quarterback entered his revenge game against Maryland as a game-time decision, and given the bleak outcome, playing Edwards Jr. was clearly not the right decision. Hindsight is 20/20, but the quarterback looked visibly uncomfortable on the field and could have potentially set himself back in his recovery once again. The exact health of the knee of Edwards Jr. is will be determined during the bye week but early indications say the quarterback will be back against Michigan.
O’Neil, on the other hand, left the game against the Terrapins late after taking multiple big hits and landing awkwardly. The quarterback has a style of running and playmaking that is full of confidence and difficult to not enjoy when things are going right, but the style of O’Neil also sets himself up for bigger hits in the open field. The status of the quarterback is not known yet, but O’Neil will again need to miss time and rest during the bye week which could hamper his ability to prepare for the game against Michigan.
The Wolverines are no joke on defense this season and the Badgers could be in serious trouble considering how shaky the young offensive line has been. Michigan has recorded 14 sacks already this season and seven of those sacks were against Nebraska in a narrow 30-27 win. Whether Edwards Jr. or O’Neil plays, the quarterback for Wisconsin will likely be sacked and tested physically which is arguably the last thing the Badgers need.
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