Wisconsin heads into Week 4 with the injury picture about as expected, and Penn State isn’t exactly bursting with good news either.
The first official Big Ten availability report didn’t deliver many surprises, but it did sharpen the focus on a few names that could matter once the Badgers and No. 13 Nittany Lions open conference play. The league now releases those reports three days before game day and again two hours before kickoff, so the picture should get clearer from here.
One of the biggest losses on Wisconsin’s side is cornerback Bates, the Florida State transfer who quietly tore his ACL in Week 2. The program hasn’t formally addressed it yet, but Bates posted about the injury on Instagram, and he’s effectively done for the 2026 campaign. It’s a hit to the secondary’s depth, though not one that changes the starting defense much right now, since Bates played only eight snaps over two games.
At tight end, Jacob Harris is trending in the right direction for Wisconsin’s passing game. He caught three passes for 89 yards against Eastern Michigan, and his snap count has climbed each week, going from 17 to 21 to 31.
Schwendeman’s absence against Eastern Michigan likely helped open the door, but Harris needs to stay involved. He’s Wisconsin’s most dangerous pass-catching tight end, and at 6-6 and 265 pounds, he’s a matchup problem who brings some real juice to the offense.
The Badgers also got encouraging signs from several injured players. Linebacker Mason Posa is working through turf toe, and Luke Fickell said at his Week 4 press conference that he’s listed as probable. Fickell made it sound like this is more about managing the issue than expecting it to disappear.
“I don’t know exactly where he is. Each and every week, some of those guys with turf toe, I don’t know if it’s ever gonna go away, it’s something you have to manage but you have to be at your best on Saturday," Fickell said. "So far, each week he’s felt better.”
Wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr.’s situation is less clear on paper, but the fact that he has been dealing with it for multiple weeks and still played a season-high 43 snaps against Eastern Michigan suggests he’s in decent shape.
Wisconsin has also been without wide receiver Malachi Coleman and tailback Abu Sama since Week 2. Coleman’s issue came after a head injury against Western Illinois, while Sama’s injury has been less transparent. Even so, Sama told reporters he expects to play Saturday against his old head coach and several former teammates, which makes it hard to imagine him sitting out in Happy Valley.
Coleman is the more uncertain case. There’s no reason to pretend certainty here, but the description points toward a concussion, especially after he hit his head hard on the turf. Fickell’s comment after seeing the receiver animated on the sideline only adds to that read: "Okay, maybe he doesn’t have a headache or whatever comes along with hitting your head or face on the turf,'" If that’s the issue, the main hurdle is clearing protocol, though Wisconsin would also want to see him practice multiple times.
Tailback Bryan Jackson is another name to watch. He was seen with trainers and had his ankles taped during the second half of Wisconsin’s win over Eastern Michigan.
He never returned, but he kept his helmet on and didn’t look badly limited. With no specifics on the injury, the fact that he’s questionable and has a real chance to play is a positive sign.
Penn State has its own issues to monitor. Starting center Brock Riker left the Buffalo game early and is listed as questionable, along with TE2 Andrew Rappleyea, who has five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown this season.
If Riker can’t go, that could matter more for the Nittany Lions than Rappleyea’s status. Wisconsin has been stout up front, and asking a backup center to deal with Hammond Russell IV, Charles Perkins and the rest of the Badgers’ massive, veteran defensive front is not a clean setup.
In Other News...
Wisconsin's Secondary Just Took A Hit At The Worst Time
Wisconsins secondary was already a group to watch early this season, and now it has to absorb a major blow. Cornerback Cai Bates announced he tore his ACL in Week 2, a setback that is expected to end his season and takes away one of the Badgers more promising additions. The Florida State transfer was in line for a bigger role, with the staff expecting his playing time to rise as the year moved along.
The timing is especially rough for a defense that needs reliable depth on the back end, because the injury narrows the options at cornerback in a hurry. With Bates out, true freshman Donovan Dunmore is now the top backup outside cornerback, a spot that comes with real pressure this early in the season. For Wisconsin, the question is no longer just how to replace snaps, but how long the secondary can stay steady while one of its most intriguing pieces is sidelined. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Earliest 2027 Commit Is Already Showing A Different Edge
A little more than halfway through the high school season, Ethan McIntosh is already looking like a prospect whose game is starting to match the buzz around his name. The Verona Wildcats moved to 4-1 with a 31-13 home win over Janesville Parker, and McIntosh stood out for more than just being Wisconsins earliest commit in the class of 2027. His physicality and leadership were noticeable on the field, and head coach Andrew Riley praised the progress he has made.
For Wisconsin, the encouraging part is not just that McIntosh is committed early, but that he is beginning to show the kind of edge the Badgers want up front. He also talked about how close the Wisconsin offensive line recruits already are, which matters for a program that leans so heavily on cohesion and continuity in the trenches. The pledge is still early in the process, but McIntosh is giving Wisconsin a reminder that his development is moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Heads Into Penn State With One Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Wisconsins first three weeks have offered a pretty clear snapshot of where this team stands entering Big Ten play. The Badgers are 2-1 after handling Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan before running into Notre Dame, and now the schedule gets more serious with Penn State waiting in the conference opener. For a team trying to establish itself early, this is the kind of game that can sharpen the picture quickly.
Whats hard to miss is the need for cleaner football across the board. Wisconsin has to put together a complete game, cut down on penalties and get more out of the rushing attack if it wants to look the part against a Penn State team that tends to punish small mistakes. The margin for error shrinks in a matchup like this, and the Badgers are heading in with a few obvious issues that fans will be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]