As seen by multiple tweets by the media, the Wisconsin Badgers released their week two preliminary report on Monday as they prepare to face New Mexico on Saturday.
Of significant notice was redshirt sophomore defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk not being listed on the injury report, while redshirt senior tight end Zander Neuville was upgraded from “out” to “questionable” this week.
Head coach Paul Chryst said during his Monday press conference that Loudermilk “has been able to practice some” and mentioned that the coaching staff will monitor how the redshirt sophomore will respond to the volume of work he received during the week.
For that matter, Chryst mentioned both Loudermilk and Neuville are cleared and “able to go,” which he described as being able to practice and play, but he wants to see how they respond to the volume during this week.
Loudermilk has been working his way back from offseason surgery and would be a welcomed sight for the defensive line, though that position group appeared solid in Friday’s 34-3 win over Western Kentucky.
When asked if the performances of Matt Henningsen and Kayden Lyles last week will help ease Loudermilk back in, Chryst believes their play did, also noting the former was “productive.”
“[Henningsen] was in on seven tackles,” Chryst said, “and Kayden did some really good things, so I think there’s nothing like feeling the game and playing in the game, and I thought both of them did some really good [things].”
Neuville worked his way back from a torn ACL suffered during the 2017 regular season finale against Minnesota. He suffered another injury during fall camp and was listed as out to start the season.
“I thought last year, ‘Z’ was playing really good football,” Chryst said. “He certainly, I think he’s becoming a more complete tight end, and it’s been kind of fun to see his evolution obviously from flipping him over from defense to playing on offense, and I think ‘Z’ can give you what you want out of a tight end, and that’s certainly good in the run game but I think he can add a lot in the pass game as well.”
Chryst also mentioned tight end Luke Benzschawel, also noted as out for Saturday’s game against New Mexico, will miss a couple of games.
Safety Patrick Johnson (head) also did not appear on Monday’s preliminary injury report.
This week’s #Badgers injury report. Zander Neuville and Reggie Pearson questionable. Luke Benzschawel and Mike Maskalunas out vs New Mexico. pic.twitter.com/ahFRCOn31w
— Jason Galloway (@Jason_Galloway) September 3, 2018
Here’s the full list:
Questionable
- Tight end Zander Neuville (right leg)
- Safety Reggie Pearson (left leg)
- Kicker P.J. Rosowski (left leg)
Out for Saturday
- TE Luke Benzschawel (right leg)
- DE Kraig Howe (right leg)
- ILB Mike Maskalunas (left leg)
- RB Bradrick Shaw (left leg)
Out for season
- OLB Mason Platter (right leg)
- DE Garrett Rand (right leg)
- DE Blake Smithback (right leg)
On Wisconsin’s depth chart released on Monday, Neuville is listed as the No. 1 tight end, and Reggie Pearson is back as the No. 2 strong safety behind D’Cota Dixon. Neither Loudermilk nor Johnson were listed on the depth chart for now.
- One tidbit from Chryst’s press conference on left tackle Cole Van Lanen’s play: “I thought Cole played really well. I thought that he looked relaxed and I thought his purpose, his focus was on. He wasn’t on edge a ton, and I think that’s speaking volumes of he’s trusting his technique and he’s trusting what to do and when to apply the different rules that you kind of play the game by. Again, if that’s his starting point, then I think that’s a good sign.”
Arrington Farrar leaves team
WOZN’s Zach Heilprin reported on Monday that outside linebacker Arrington Farrar has left the program:
A UW official confirmed the departure, calling it a mutual decision between the team and the player, and that Farrar is still in school working towards his degree. The move happened last week.
Farrar played in 39 career games before this season for Wisconsin, but switched positions during the last two years. He initially started as a safety but then worked at inside linebacker last year before bumping out to outside linebacker in spring and fall camp.