Wisconsin’s fall camp has brought a more encouraging injury picture than the Badgers dealt with a year ago, but the list still isn’t empty.
The biggest name to watch right now is starting right tackle Heywood, who was hurt at practice No. 2 and hasn’t played since. He was around on Tuesday, though, working on a stationary bike early in the session and taking part in as much as he could. That included joining in when offensive line coach Eric Mateos had the whole unit do up-downs several times.
Heywood has stayed close to his position group through each drill and has continued to be a vocal presence for teammates, even while limited. He remains “day-to-day,” but it’s still hard to say how much time he might actually miss.
Another starting offensive lineman, Mandell, has been sidelined for the entire camp so far. Unlike Heywood, he has mostly spent practices off to the side doing stretching and individual rehab work. The difference in how the two linemen are handling their injuries has stood out during camp, even if it doesn’t necessarily mean one issue is more serious than the other.
Jackson is in uniform but has not been practicing. With him out, and with Abu Sama and Darrion Dupree ahead of him, Nate Palmer has gotten more chances in team periods.
Jackson doesn’t look especially limited, but he has not been taking part in drills or contact work. He has, however, been one of the loudest voices on the sideline after good offensive plays.
At quarterback, O'Neil is still not expected to factor into Wisconsin’s plans for 2026 after a difficult debut season in Madison ended with a serious lower body injury. If healthy, he would be no better than the fourth-string quarterback.
Even so, Tuesday morning brought a positive sign: he worked in both individual and team drills and got in a few throws during his limited reps. He still doesn’t project as a factor this fall, but his progress during camp is noticeable.
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Joe Brunner Is Becoming A Frustrating What-If For Wisconsin
Joe Brunners move from Wisconsin to Indiana this offseason is the kind of transfer that lingers with a fan base, especially after a down year for the Badgers. A player once expected to be part of the lines foundation is now lining up somewhere else in the Big Ten, and the early signs in Bloomington suggest he is finding a different kind of fit.
At Indiana, Brunner has stepped into a more vocal leadership role on the offensive line, something he did not fully embrace in Madison. Curt Cignetti has made a point of pushing older transfers into those kinds of responsibilities, and Brunner appears to be responding to that approach in a way Wisconsin never quite saw. For the Badgers, it only adds to the frustration of wondering what might have been if that version of him had surfaced earlier. [Read more 🡒]
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One of the brighter offensive moments came from JUCO transfer tailback Juju Pope, who broke loose for a long touchdown with the second-team offense. Even so, the defense had the louder answers overall, with Posa coming through on one of the most disruptive plays of the day by knifing into the backfield on a jet-motion look and blowing it up before it could get started. For an offense still sorting itself out, it was a useful reminder that camp progress often looks more like resistance than comfort. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Fall Camp Is Setting Up Some Big Starting Job Fights
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The most interesting part of camp is not just who is practicing, but which players are starting to separate themselves as the staff evaluates the first units and the key contributors behind them. There is a real sense that several of these battles could shape how the offense and defense look once the games count, and a few spots already have the feel of decisions that may not be settled until camp is deep into its final stretch. [Read more 🡒]