Wisconsin football: Vince Biegel upgraded to questionable; Olive Sagapolu, Robert Wheelwright added to injury list

MADISON — Rivalry week part one of three begins as the No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers prepare to face the Iowa Hawkeyes next Saturday inside Kinnick Stadium.

It will be interesting to see who suits up in Iowa City this weekend.

Wisconsin (4-2 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) released its Monday injury report during player availability, and several contributors are listed as questionable for the battle for the Heartland Trophy.

Redshirt senior outside linebacker Vince Biegel was upgraded to questionable after being ruled out for UW’s losses against Michigan and Ohio State with a fractured right foot.

“As far as chances, we’ll see how the week goes,” head coach Paul Chryst said. “I do think that Vince loves playing the game. He really, in all the right ways, cares about this team.

“That’s been the sting for him. Once you go under the procedure, when you’re making progress, to me, it’s less anxious and it’s more looking forward to when you can go again. He’s making good steps, taking good steps forward and we hope that continues.”

For what it’s worth, Biegel returned to the depth chart released by the Wisconsin staff on Monday as one of the two starting outside linebackers opposite redshirt junior T.J. Watt.

His presence would be welcomed, though redshirt junior Garret Dooley and redshirt freshman Zack Baun have played admirably in the captain’s absence. Baun, however, is also listed as questionable with a left leg injury. If both don’t return, that leaves Watt and Dooley to start, with the rest of the position left with either true or redshirt freshmen.

Maybe the most concerning injury is that of nose guard Olive Sagapolu (right arm). The 6’2, 340-pound sophomore has been an anchor in an underrated defensive line that’s allowed its linebackers to continuously make plays in Justin Wilcox’s 3-4 scheme through six games this season. True freshman Garrett Rand has earned his stripes and snaps as the No. 2 nose tackle.

Offensively, senior wide receiver Robert Wheelwright is questionable with a right leg injury. He has caught 20 passes for 310 yards (15.5 yards per catch). The Ohio native and redshirt junior Jazz Peavy have solidified the wide receiver positions as a duo of reliable pass catchers in Chryst’s pro-style offense.

It should be noted that like Biegel, Sagapolu, Baun, running back Taiwan Deal (right leg) guard Jon Dietzen (right leg) and Wheelwright are all still listed on the depth chart.

Depth chart

Some updates to this week’s two-deep:

• Redshirt freshman David Edwards is listed as the No. 2 right tackle.
• As noted earlier, Biegel is listed as one of the two No. 1 outside linebackers.
• Senior running back Corey Clement and Peavy are listed as the punt returns with the “OR” denotation.