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A significant injury will cost a Wisconsin Badgers team captain and former walk-on his final season.
On Thursday, Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst announced redshirt senior inside linebacker Jack Cichy will miss the 2017 season due to a torn ACL. The tear is in Cichy’s right knee, according to BadgerNation.com’s Benjamin Worgull.
The injury occurred during Wisconsin’s Tuesday evening practice inside Camp Randall Stadium. UW confirmed the surgery will take place on Friday.
Cichy released the following message through UW’s football Twitter account:
A message from @jackCICHY pic.twitter.com/w3cdyleQ3b
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) August 10, 2017
Cichy was primed for a huge season after missing the final seven games in 2016. Last year, he still tied for third on the team in tackles for loss (seven) and tied for fourth in tackles (60).
Before fall camp began, Cichy earned Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Nagurski Trophy, and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list honors. Among his peers, he was named among one of five team captains for 2017.
“You hate it for Jack,” Chryst said in a statement released by UW on Thursday morning. “You only get so many chances to play this game and you never want to see a guy miss any of those opportunities. He’s one of the leaders of our team and I know he’ll be a big part of what we do moving forward this season.”
Cichy was receiving reps with the first-team defense alongside redshirt junior T.J. Edwards at inside linebacker. Redshirt sophomore Chris Orr and redshirt junior Ryan Connelly will presumably have to step up. Connelly has missed the past few practices due to a left leg injury.