Wisconsin may be getting a boost up front, but the injury report still leaves two of its most important playmakers in question heading into Saturday night’s game against No. 16 USC.
Starting center Austin Kawecki is listed as probable on the updated Big Ten injury report for the second straight day, a sign the Badgers could be close to getting him back. Kawecki has been dealing with a broken hand, which head coach Luke Fickell revealed after the loss at UCLA.
Fickell had previously said the injury was to Kawecki’s right hand, the snapping hand, which raises the obvious question of how he would return to his usual center spot with that issue. One possibility would be keeping Stylz Blackmon at center and moving Kawecki to right guard so he can get on the field without having to handle the snap.
Even with that possible reinforcement, Wisconsin still has two key names listed as questionable: cornerback Javan Robinson and wide receiver Malachi Coleman.
Robinson has been one of Wisconsin’s best coverage players this fall, but there is reason to wonder about his availability after he played just 55 snaps at the Rose Bowl, his third-fewest of the season. In the Badgers’ first two Big Ten games, he was on the field for 66 snaps against Penn State and 71 against Michigan State.
If he can’t go, that would be a problem for a Wisconsin secondary that had more trouble than expected against UCLA backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach. That concern only grows with USC quarterback Jayden Maiava coming in as No. 2 nationally in passing yards with 2,045.
If Robinson is out, Eric Fletcher Jr. would likely step in opposite Jai'mier Scott.
Coleman’s status matters just as much for the other side of the ball. His speed gives Wisconsin a vertical threat that can force defenses to respect the deep ball, and no other Badger receiver has shown the same consistent ability to get behind defensive backs. If Coleman is unavailable, Jaylon Domingeaux, who made his Wisconsin debut in Pasadena, would be in line for a larger workload.
Wisconsin also has two running backs on the report. Nate Palmer, who has nine carries for 26 yards this season, is questionable.
That’s not nearly as concerning given the depth chart when Abu Sama is healthy; Palmer sits behind Sama, Darrion Dupree and Bryan Jackson. Dupree, meanwhile, is listed as probable.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Gets A Huge Opening In Ranked USC Showdown
USCs trip to Camp Randall Stadium has turned into a spotlight game for both programs, with the No. 16 Trojans set for their fourth straight primetime appearance on NBC. Wisconsin gets a chance to measure itself against a ranked opponent at home, and the matchup has plenty of intrigue even before kickoff, with the Trojans currently installed as three-point favorites.
The opening may be bigger than expected if those two USC players on the injury report are limited or unavailable, giving the Badgers an early opportunity to press the issue. Wisconsin will lean on quarterback Colton Joseph to steer the offense in a game that kicks off Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT, and the setting alone should give the Badgers a chance to make this one uncomfortable for a team that has spent the last month in the national spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Just Added A New Backcourt Question Before The Season
Braeden Carringtons path to Wisconsin just got a little more complicated, and a lot more interesting. The senior guard has been granted a fifth year of eligibility after a California judge issued an injunction in the Glancey v. NCAA case, a ruling that arrived shortly before the season and temporarily opens the door for 76 seniors, including Carrington, to suit up this year while the NCAA moves toward an appeal.
For the Badgers, it adds another layer to an already crowded backcourt picture. Carrington averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 rebounds last season, and his return gives Wisconsin another experienced option in a rotation that figures to be sorted out over the coming weeks rather than settled now. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins USC Upset Bid Comes Down To One Frustrating Fix
Wisconsin heads into its home matchup with No. 16 USC knowing the margin for error is thin, and the Badgers cannot afford the kind of stalled possessions that have repeatedly undercut them this season. Third downs have been a problem, the offensive line has not consistently given the offense the stability it needs, and the running game has left room for more by not fully leaning on its key backs.
The situation gets even sharper with the possibility of center Austin Kawecki returning, which would at least give Wisconsin a chance to steady the middle of the line. Colton Josephs decision-making also looms large, because against a USC offense that can make teams chase points, the Badgers need cleaner drives and fewer turnovers if they want to stay in the game. [Read more 🡒]