Wisconsin’s trip to No. 12 UCLA could come with some welcome reinforcements.
The first injury report for the Badgers points to a potentially healthier offense, with running back Abu Sama and wide receiver Jaylon Domingeaux both trending toward availability. Sama is listed as probable, while Domingeaux is also probable after his return started to gain traction last week.
Center Austin Kawecki remains the biggest name to watch. He’s listed as questionable, and head coach Luke Fickell’s outlook on him was more guarded than his read on Sama.
“I would expect that Abu is good. As of right now I would hope and believe he’s okay.
Austin, I don’t really know yet. He’ll have a club on his hand right now.
As the week goes, we’ll see how much he can do," he said at his weekly press conference.
Kawecki’s status matters because of what sits across from Wisconsin on Saturday. UCLA’s run defense has been one of the country’s toughest, ranking No. 14 nationally and allowing just 87.6 yards per game. Getting the veteran center back would be a meaningful lift for a Badgers ground game trying to handle that front.
At the same time, Wisconsin hasn’t been left empty-handed if Kawecki can’t go. Backup center Ryan Cory was strong in relief and, by the eye test, looked much improved from last season. That helps soften the blow if the Badgers have to keep moving without their starter.
Sama would also give Wisconsin another dimension. Darrion Dupree has been excellent and has arguably been the team’s best all-around back, but Sama has been the most explosive runner on the roster at 6.8 yards per carry. That kind of burst changes the look of the backfield in a hurry.
There’s also one more backfield note: Nate Palmer is doubtful. He has nine carries for 26 yards this season and has filled the RB3 role when Sama has been unavailable and RB4 when Sama has played.
If Domingeaux is cleared, the Badgers will have to sort out how to fit him into a receiver rotation that already includes Malachi Coleman, Tyrell Henry, Eugene Hilton Jr., and Chris Brooks Jr. Still, Domingeaux has already shown he can bring juice. He flashed at Southeastern Louisiana and carried that over into offseason work in Madison.
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The encouraging part for Wisconsin is that the improvement has not come only from the familiar names. Backup linemen like Ryan Cory and Stylz Blackmon have taken meaningful steps forward, giving the staff more confidence in the depth behind the starters. The lines progress has been gradual, and it has come in the middle of constant adjustment, but it has also opened the door to a more functional offense than Wisconsin had last season. [Read more 🡒]