Wisconsin spring practice report No. 10

MADISON — The Wisconsin Badgers entered their second-to-last week of spring practices on Tuesday morning, taking in another session inside the McClain Center because winter really does not want us to enjoy the spring.

After missing several practices open to the media, wide receiver Kendric Pryor returned to the field and suited up. He appeared to be with the normal set of players catching punts earlier in practice along with fellow receivers Jack Dunn, Aron Cruickshank, and Cade Green, though I did not see him in team-based drills.

After missing Friday’s scrimmage, offensive lineman Logan Bruss also came back to the field.

There were also some new and some expected names added to the injury report for Tuesday’s 100-minute-ish sessions.

Redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Zack Baun (left leg) did not practice and was seen with a protective walking boot on his left leg. The redshirt sophomore suffered the injury during Friday’s practice and exited the session, returning later in regular clothes and with that boot on his leg.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus reported on Tuesday morning that Baun will be out “indefinitely” and had an MRI of which Wisconsin officials are awaiting official word on. Potrykus noted “it appears they are optimistic Baun did not re-break his foot.”

Also out for Tuesday’s session were running back Chris James (right leg), outside linebacker Noah Burks (right leg), inside linebacker Mike Maskalunas (left leg), and wide receiver Chris Clementi (neck).

James appeared to have some ice wrapped around his lower right ankle/foot area during Friday’s scrimmage.

Observations

• I don’t keep track of receptions or completions/incompletions/drops, but I liked what wide receivers Taj Mustapha and Cruickshank showed during practice. Mustapha caught what seemed to be a few receptions in the time he had in team and skeleton drills. including a nifty little move to shake a defender (I believe it was a linebacker) in the middle of the field.
• Cruickshank’s speed was evident on a couple of catches as he gained separation toward the sidelines against a reserve defender, along with a deep would-be “touchdown” catch during some 7-on-7 work. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native made a great catch toward the end of practice in the end zone from the arm of Jack Coan during a team drill that would have been a touchdown as well.
• Speaking of Coan, I thought he had a solid day as well. He completed a deep pass to goth Cruickshank and A.J. Taylor, along with that “touchdown” catch to Cruickshank.
• Jake Ferguson just seems to keeping catch passes. The redshirt freshman again reeled in some passes thrown in his vicinity on Tuesday. After practice, quarterback Alex Hornibrook called him a “really athletic pass catcher.” By next week, I hope to write something up on the redshirt freshman’s progression with insights from Hornibrook, Penniston, tight ends coach Mickey Turner, and Ferguson himself.

Jake Kocorowski

• The defense did have an interception during the morning session from defensive back Caesar Williams.
• With Baun out, walk-on Tyler Johnson worked opposite redshirt senior Andrew Van Ginkel at outside linebacker, though with Van Ginkel not getting many team drill reps, I also saw Christian Bell playing opposite Johnson.