Jordan Fredrick doesn’t enjoy seeing one of his best friends, and key contributor to the Wisconsin football team’s offense, Alex Erickson, on the sideline.
But after getting suplexed into Camp Randall Stadium’s turf by Iowa’s Desmond King in the Badgers 10-6 loss Saturday, Erickson’s status remains iffy as the Badgers travel to Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers at 2:30 p.m.
Erickson’s absence gave backup wide receivers, like Fredrick, more reps during practice Tuesday. For Fredrick, it’s a welcomed opportunity despite the situation.
“It’s not the ideal situation. You don’t want a teammate, a friend, one of your best buddies getting hurt just to get out there more,” Fredrick said. “But it’s something that happens in the game of football regardless of who it is, and that’s why guys can’t give up when they’re not playing Week 1.”
But that’s the situation Fredrick found himself in as camp broke this season. The fifth-year senior knew he was low on the depth chart, but kept working to see more playing time, in case of a situation like this.
“I felt like I had a really good camp, but I wasn’t where I wanted to be coming into the Alabama week,” Fredrick said. “But obviously it’s just ‘Keep working, it’s a long season.’ Especially in situations like this, like having Alex being out right now.”
Erickson is the Badgers leading receiver in receptions (26) and yards (350). Fredrick has caught four passes for 51 yards this season.
Robert Wheelwright and Jazz Peavy will also see an increased workload if Erickson can’t play.
At tight end, Austin Traylor definitely will not play against Nebraska. He isn’t even listed on the depth chart. In his place is redshirt sophomore Troy Fumagalli, who took over for Traylor after he exited the Iowa game.
Fumagalli was quarterback Joel Stave’s intended target on the Badgers’ final offensive play against the Hawkeyes, a 4th-and-2 pass to the sideline which fell incomplete.
Fumagalli, who has been banged up this season with a left ankle injury and still wears a brace to protect his right thumb, said he could have done a better job on his route to try and make it a completion.
“I think I could’ve gotten out of the break a little sooner,” he said.
Fumagalli and redshirt junior Eric Steffes are the top tight ends on the depth chart now, but wide receiver Reggie Love has worked with the unit this week to provide depth.
The biggest adjustment for Fumagalli as he transitions to the starting role is the number of game reps, he said.
“Just getting used to playing more,” Fumagalli said. “Just getting used to that workload Austin had.”
He’ll also have big shoes to fill, especially since Traylor’s three receiving touchdowns lead the team.
At right tackle, offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said Hayden Biegel is out with an undisclosed injury. Jacob Maxwell started in his place against Iowa. In a reversal of grim injury news, Beau Benzschawel, who was out since training camp with a knee injury, returned to practice. The redshirt freshman took half of the first-team reps at right tackle, Rudolph said.
Despite all the injuries his side of the ball has seen, Rudolph sees it as an opportunity for guys to prove their worth.
“It gives opportunities for someone else to step up,” Rudolph said. “You never know. There’s some times when a guy steps up and he never looks back.”
Clement reaches out to teammates
Even though Corey Clement was thousands of miles away, he still watched his team lose to Iowa Saturday.
Clement was in Germany to have surgery on his sports hernia that will keep him sidelined at least through October, but he texted teammates Dare Ogunbowale and Taiwan Deal after the game, offering words of encouragement.
“He really didn’t say too much about it,” Ogunbowale said.
Ogunbowale added that Clement enjoyed his experience overseas.
“He did say it was a different way of life over there,” Ogunbowale said. “He hadn’t been out of the country like that before. He said it was nice to see a different culture.”