Jon Dietzen returns to practice on Wednesday

MADISON—With the Big Ten Network crew in town, the Wisconsin Badgers practiced inside Camp Randall Stadium on a humid Wednesday morning/afternoon.

While BTN’s Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith patrolled the sidelines to catch the action, B5Q was there for most of the session (outside of the last half hour of it).

On a positive note, left tackle Jon Dietzen returned to the field, working as the first-team left tackle. The rest of the apparent “first-team” offensive line looked like, from left tackle to right tackle, Dietzen, Michael Deiter, Tyler Biadasz, Josh Seltzner, Cole Van Lanen.

Seltzner and Van Lanen received first-team reps at right guard and right tackle, respectively. Beau Benzschawel (right arm) and David Edwards (left arm) also returned but in limited fashion, working in drills earlier in practice as seen in the photos below.

More injury talk

The full injury report is listed below. Like Edwards and Benzschawel, fellow offensive linemen Logan Bruss (right leg) and Jason Erdmann (right leg) also were listed as limited.

New to the injury report on Wednesday included cornerback/safety Travian Blaylock (right leg) and wide receiver A.J. Taylor (left leg). Taylor wore a boot around his left foot.

Tight end Zander Neuville (right leg), despite being listed as out, worked in some jogging/running across the field in at least his jersey (might have had shoulder pads on but was viewing from afar). That could be viewed as a positive sign for the redshirt senior, who upon his return will be the starting in-line “Y” tight end for the offense.

Redshirt sophomore defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk was still in workout clothes and not suited up, but from what I saw, was working out of a defensive line stance for some drills on the sideline.

Observations

• Junior Quintez Cephus looks the part of a WR1, especially from what I saw on Saturday and Wednesday’s practices. Early on during 1:1 drills between wide receivers and defensive backs, Cephus put a nice move on redshirt freshman cornerback Faion Hicks. He also came down with this reception against true freshman corner Rachad Wildgoose.

• Forgot what period and type of work (thought it was 7-on-7 or 1-on-1 drills but could be wrong), but redshirt freshman safety Scott Nelson found himself another interception.
• Again, missing about the last 30 or so minutes, but felt early on there were some nice pass break-ups (did not count, just something that stook out). Here’s outside linebacker Zack Baun with one, courtesy of BTN’s Dave Revsine.

• Looked like Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams received some first-team reps at cornerback today. I’m very interested to see who starts this season.
• Returning kickoffs, with Taylor out, was Kendric Pryor, Faion Hicks and Aron Cruickshank.
• FULLBACK ALERT. On one particular play, and it was just one rep, but fullback Alec Ingold appeared to pancake fellow senior D’Cota Dixon on a run.
• Finally, and because I had to leave early, I also missed this: