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Update: Nelson attended Friday’s practice and was on crutches. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus reported that the injury occurred at the McClain Center.
Nelson told WKOW’s Amy Gill that he will undergo surgery next week that should have him back “for/during training camp.”
Nelson says he will have surgery on Tuesday. Says he has been told he should be back in time for/during training camp.
— Amy Gill (@amygillsports) April 6, 2018
Former #Badgers CB Nick Nelson here at Friday practice on crutches. pic.twitter.com/8x4upQSWHO
— Jake Kocorowski (@JakeKocoB5Q) April 6, 2018
Unfortunate news according to NFL Network and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, as Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Nick Nelson suffered a torn meniscus and will have surgery next week.
Rapoport reported the injury occurred “during a private workout with a team” and will require Nelson to be out 3–4 months, though he “should be healthy” for the upcoming 2018 season.
Bad news for #Wisconsin’s Nick Nelson, a top CB prospect: He tore his meniscus during a private workout with a team and will have it surgically repaired next week, sources say. Nelson is out 3-4 months but should be healthy for the season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 6, 2018
#Wisconsin CB Nick Nelson is the second prospect to suffer a major injury in a private workout with a team. NC State DE Kentavius Street also suffered a serious knee injury, as well. … This is why agents are slowly telling their guys not work out for teams unless it's necessary.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 6, 2018
In another report, a source told ProFootballTalk.com the setback took place in a workout with the Detroit Lions.
The Lions have apparently been working out quite a few Badgers in recent days. B5Q reported on Tuesday that fullback Austin Ramesh worked out for the NFC North organization on Monday in Madison, while WOZN and Wisconsin Sports Zone Network’s Zach Heilprin reported on Thursday that linebackers coach Al Golden was in Madison to work out a trio of Badger linebackers: Leon Jacobs, Garret Dooley, and Jack Cichy.
How much this hurts Nelson’s draft stock remains to be seen. A prospect profile from NFL.com’s Mackensie Alexander listed Nelson as a round 3 or 4 pick, with DraftAnalyst.com believing he was a fourth-round selection. NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter projected the cornerback as a fourth-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals on April 5.
Nelson’s injury doesn’t appear season-ending, though if the three or four-month recovery timetable from Rapoport is accurate, it would potentially force the Wisconsin corner to miss teams’ rookie camps and OTAs in May and June.