Wisconsin football: Graham Mertz is taking first team reps at quarterback

Wisconsin Badgers head coach Paul Chryst met with the media on Monday morning and confirmed the report that starting quarterback Jack Coan is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Chryst went on to note that it was a “non-contact” injury and that they are waiting until Coan meets with a specialist before a return timetable will be announced.

Chryst listed the new depth chart at QB as: Graham Mertz, Chase Wolf and then Danny Vanden Boom. Mertz is a highly touted former 4-star prospect out of Kansas who completed 9-of-10 passes last year in two games worth of mop up duty. He is the highest rated QB commit that the Badgers have ever signed and many fans have been clamoring for him to play even before Coan’s injury.

When asked how the offense might change without Coan under center, Chryst mentioned that he thought all of his quarterbacks had similar skillsets and that not much would have to be changed in the playbook. He did note that there were going to be changes regardless of who the quarterback is due to the losses from last year’s team.

Last week, both Chryst and offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph talked about the leadership that Coan had been displaying during practice this year, making it all the more tough that Coan suffered this injury. However, it seems like Coan is still taking his role as a senior importantly.

Well folks, we have officially entered Mertz SZN...let’s see what the kid can do!