Report: Tanner Mordecai expected to start for Wisconsin vs. Northwestern

Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai is expected to start Saturday against Northwestern, according to Patrick Herb, the team’s director of brand communications strategy.

Injuries caused Wisconsin to turn to backup Braedyn Locke and get Myles Burkett ready, but it appears Mordecai is back in action. It’s a pivotal stretch for the Badgers (5-4) in the Big Ten West race.

Wisconsin and Northwestern are set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

Head coach Luke Fickell provided the latest on Mordecai’s recovery earlier this week.

“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.”

Tanner Mordecai set to return to Wisconsin lineup

In six games this season, Mordecai has 1,127 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and a 63.7% completion percentage. It’s a far cry from his two years at SMU.

In the last two seasons, Mordecai set the world on fire with 7,152 yards, 72 touchdowns, 22 interceptions and a 66.4% completion percentage.

Having lost the last two games, in which the Badgers scored 24 combined points, Fickell isn’t saying no to anything on the offensive end at this point. But with Mordecai back in the lineup, it could lead to more success.

“You throw another guy in there at the quarterback position that has taken zero snaps, and you’re in your last three weeks of the season, there’s a lot of tough things, just trust-wise and taking care of the football and not putting yourself in a really bad situation,” Fickell said. “But I think that that’s the challenge for us as we move down the stretch and that’s the challenge i’ve had a little bit for offense.

“Based on some of the things we’ve got, we might have to be a little more creative and find ways to get some of the guys that can make some plays on the field, whether that’s with their arm or their feet.”