Report: Wisconsin DE Chikwe Obasih out indefinitely with knee injury

Update, Thursday, Sept. 7, 4:18 p.m.: UW confirmed via its injury report that Obasih will be out for the Florida Atlantic game with a left leg injury.

Update, 1:57 p.m.: A UW official confirmed Obasih was injured, but could not confirm the specific injury nor the severity.

Another blow hits the Wisconsin Badgers’ defense.

Redshirt senior defensive end Chikwe Obasih injured his knee during Wednesday’s practice, according to a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus. The duration of time Obasih will miss is yet to be determined. B5Q has reached out to UW for confirmation of the injury and the potential timetable for his return.

Potrykus reported Obaish’s injury “does not appear to be season-ending, however.”

Obasih has played in 42 games (31 starts) throughout his Wisconsin career, but was out during spring practices due to a hip injury. The loss of the Brookfield, Wis., native is the third injury to significant contributors on Jim Leonhard’s defense. The Badgers already have lost inside linebacker Jack Cichy (ACL) and outside linebacker Zack Baun (left foot) for the season.

Fortunately for Wisconsin, the defensive line is among the deepest on the roster. Without Obasih, there should be four, possibly five, ends capable of receiving snaps. They include fellow seniors and team captains Alec James and Conor Sheehy, redshirt freshman Isaiahh Loudermilk (who had his first career sack on Friday), and potentially redshirt junior Billy Hirschfeld (who was not on the depth chart but played in 12 games last year).

Sophomore Garrett Rand also played end during the spring, though he moved back to nose tackle and received snaps in Wisconsin’s 59–10 win over Utah State.

Stay tuned for the final injury report that should be distributed by Wisconsin on Thursday.