Big Ten announces injury report for Wisconsin-Northwestern game

Wisconsin hosts Northwestern this afternoon in a Big Ten West showdown, except the Badgers are without a number of players today, according to the team’s injury report.

The Wisconsin and Northwestern injury reports were released by the Big Ten a couple of hours before kickoff. Here are the designations for the Badgers’ injured players:

Out

• (RB) Chez Mellusi
• (CB) Michael Mack
• (CB) Max Lofy
• (S) Kamo’i Latu
• (S) Jackson Trudgeon
• (LB) Aaron Witt
• (OT)Max Rader
• (OT) Peyton Lange
• (TE) Angel Toombs
• (TE) Michael Cerniglia, Jr.
• (WR) Chris Brooks
• (TE) Jack Pugh
• (EDGE) Jordan Mayer

Questionable

• (RB) Braelon Allen
• (QB) Tanner Mordecai
• (WR) Chimere Dike

That’s an important group of questionable guys for Wisconsin. Mordecai came into the year as the starter and has played when healthy, but the last game he appeared in occurred on Oct. 14. Since then, it’s been Braedyn Locke, who’s thrown for 777 yards this season and five touchdowns while seeing action in five different games.

Then, for Northwestern, here were was the latest on their players:

Out

• (TE) Jack Fitzgerland

Questionable

• (QB) Ben Bryant
• (EDGE) Sean McLaughlin
• (EDGE) Duke Ogles

Luke Fickell discusses Mordecai injury

By Steve Samra

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers are missing quarterback Tanner Mordecai at the moment.

The Badgers had a ton of promise entering Fickell’s first season on the job, but losing three of their last four, including two in a row, has Wisconsin reeling. Perhaps it can all be traced back to Mordecai’s injury, which has kept him out for numerous games in the last month or so.

In his stead, Braedyn Locke has led the way, passing for five touchdowns and one interception, but the offense simply hasn’t been able to hit their stride regardless. Speaking with the media following Wisconsin’s latest loss, Fickell updated the masses on Mordecai’s status.

“He warmed up last Saturday, but we you know, it was, ‘Hey, he’s a possibility. He’s an emergency maybe,’ but they’re asking you that before the game, because you’ve got to report,” Fickell elaborated. “I’m like, ‘Look, I don’t think he’s going to play,’ but we put him in there as questionable, only because of situational stuff. Not trying to hide anything. So it’s similar. I mean, when they can warm up, it’s a start.

“Does that really mean they can actually take you out there and put you in the best position to win a football game? So sometimes you just, those are some instincts that you’ve got to get a feel for. Say, ‘Okay, now we’re in a tight situation,’ but we also can’t put somebody in there that can’t protect himself, and doesn’t give us the best opportunity.”

Nevertheless, Wisconsin is one win away from becoming bowl eligible, which would be huge at this point in the season. They’ll have a good shot this weekend, as the Badgers are welcoming the Northwestern Wildcats to Madison.