Wisconsin’s first availability report for Penn State came loaded with names on both sides, and the Badgers will have to navigate Saturday with four players already ruled out and five more sitting in the questionable category.
The four Wisconsin players out are cornerback Cai Bates, wide receiver Jaylon Domingeaux, offensive lineman Michael Roeske, and defensive lineman Xavier Ukponu.
There are also five Badgers listed as questionable: running back Abu Sama III, wide receiver Malachi Coleman, running back Bryan Jackson II, offensive lineman Emerson Mandell, and tight end Ryan Schwendeman. Wisconsin, meanwhile, has tagged linebacker Mason Posa, wide receiver Eugene Hilton, quarterback Danny O’Neil, and offensive lineman Kevin Heywood as probable.
The group of absences lines up with what Wisconsin has already been dealing with. Cai Bates is out for the rest of the season, and Luke Fickell had already indicated Jaylon Domingeaux would need more time after being seen in a sling last weekend.
Sama, Coleman, and Schwendeman all missed Week 3 for Wisconsin. Sama said he’ll play on Saturday, but all three were likely limited in practice, along with Jackson and Mandell.
Posa was banged up in Week 2 but still played in Week 3, and Eugene Hilton was in the same boat. Both are listed as probable.
Penn State’s report is even longer. The Nittany Lions will be without star receiver Koby Howard on Saturday, and they also ruled out defensive lineman LaVar Arrington II, cornerback Joshua Johnson, defensive lineman Max Granville, cornerback Tyler Armstead, defensive lineman Mason Robinson, defensive lineman Dayshaun Barrett, offensive lineman Will Tompkins, and tight end Cooper Alexander.
Penn State has six players marked questionable: linebacker Cam Smith, cornerback Christian Askew, offensive lineman Brock Riker, offensive lineman Dominic Rulli, wide receiver Ethan Black, and tight end Andrew Rappleyea.
In Other News...
Wisconsin's Secondary Suddenly Has A Depth Problem Fans Didn't Want
Wisconsins secondary took another hit in Week 2 when cornerback Cai Bates went down with a torn ACL, ending his season before it really got started. The Florida State transfer had settled in as the No. 2 boundary cornerback, giving the Badgers a useful blend of experience and depth in a spot where every snap matters. Bates confirmed the injury on Instagram, and for a defense that has leaned on its back end to steady things, losing a player in that role is a tough break.
Donovan Dunmore now appears to be the next man up, with the true freshman expected to fill the opening on the boundary. For Wisconsin, the move is about more than simply plugging a lineup hole because the Badgers had been counting on Bates to provide reliable snaps in a secondary that could not afford to get thin. How quickly Dunmore can handle that jump is now one of the more important subplots on the defensive side. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Heads To Penn State With A Secondary Problem It Can't Ignore
As Wisconsin turns to Week 4 at Penn State, the conversation is already drifting toward availability as much as matchup. The Badgers are trying to navigate a secondary that took another blow with Florida State transfer cornerback Bates suffering a torn ACL and being expected to miss the season, a development that only sharpens the pressure on a defense that has to hold up on the road in a difficult environment.
The injury picture is still far from settled around Madison, with Mason Posa, Eugene Hilton Jr., Malachi Coleman, Abu Sama and Bryan Jackson all carrying different statuses heading into the trip. Penn State, meanwhile, has its own questions to sort through with starting center Brock Riker and tight end Andrew Rappleyea listed as questionable, while the Nittany Lions also will be without wide receiver Koby Howard for an extended stretch after his injury announcement. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Could Get A Dangerous Weapon Back For Penn State
Wisconsins initial injury report ahead of Penn State offered a potentially useful bit of news for the Badgers, with Malachi Coleman listed as questionable after sitting out previous games because of a concussion. Its the kind of late-week development that matters in a matchup like this, where every extra option can help a Wisconsin offense searching for more juice.
Colemans presence would give the Badgers another dangerous piece to work with against a Penn State defense that wont make things easy. Wisconsin has several other players on the report as questionable, too, but getting Coleman back into the mix would be the most notable boost if he is able to go. [Read more 🡒]