Wisconsin’s offensive line already has a problem to solve, and it centers on right tackle Kevin Heywood.
The Badgers are still early in fall camp, so this is not the kind of full-blown crisis they faced a year ago. But the situation is getting uncomfortable fast. Wisconsin is already without two projected starters on the right side of the line: guard Emerson Mandell and Heywood.
Mandell had surgery on his foot midway through spring camp and has not taken part this fall. Heywood’s issue is newer. He was injured during Friday’s practice, the second session of camp, and has not practiced since.
For now, the signs around Heywood are not alarming in the way a major injury would be. He is still suited up, still around the group and still involved on the sideline as a vocal presence. UW communications has labeled him “day-to-day,” though that only tells part of the story at this stage.
That uncertainty matters because Heywood is viewed as one of Wisconsin’s top NFL prospects and, in many eyes, the best player on the line. If his injury turns out to be more serious than it looks right now, it would be a major setback for an offense that can’t really afford to lose its best blocker. The Badgers’ front looks deeper than it did a season ago, but depth only goes so far when a unit is missing one of its anchors.
In the meantime, Wisconsin has turned to Florida State transfer Lucas Simmons-Johansson at right tackle. That move fits with how the competition was shaping up anyway, since Simmons-Johansson had also been in the mix for the starting left tackle job against PJ Wilkins. In theory, that gives Wisconsin two tackles it feels good about starting.
Right now, the projected line from left to right is Wilkins, Colin Cubberly, Ausin Kawecki, Blake Cherry and Simmons-Johansson.
So while this is not yet a disaster, it is already a real test for Wisconsin just four practices into camp. Losing Heywood for any length of time would be a significant blow, and the Badgers are clearly hoping the “day-to-day” label ends up meaning exactly that.
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Malachi Coleman kept turning heads on day four of Wisconsins fall camp, showing up with a significant gain on a dig route as the Badgers continued sorting through their receiving options. The wideouts combination of size and speed has always made him an intriguing piece, and in a camp where every rep matters, he is starting to look like more than just a project player with upside.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes has made clear the offense still needs a receiver to stretch the field and create that true vertical presence, which gives Coleman a real opening if his progress keeps building. He entered camp with limited career production, but his recruiting pedigree and the flashes he has shown so far have put him in the mix for a bigger job, one that could grow quickly if he keeps stacking plays. [Read more 🡒]
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The encouraging part for Wisconsin is that these early reps are already giving the staff a clearer sense of who can handle bigger roles this season. Some players stood out for technique, some for physical tools and some for their potential fit in the lineup, which is exactly the sort of mix that makes camp worth watching. The competition is still developing, but the Badgers are starting to learn where the strongest battles may be won, and where the depth chart could still shift before the opener. [Read more 🡒]