The Wisconsin Badgers are set to take on the No. 19 Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 11:00 a.m. at Bryant Denny Stadium, with the Badgers being 20.5-point underdogs ahead of the game.
Coming out of Week 2, both teams were dealing with some injuries to key players, and we finally have news ahead of kickoff.
Wisconsin starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. is not expected to play, but will warm up on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Earlier in the week,
Thamel indicated that Edwards was likely not to play, with sophomore Danny O’Neil making his second straight start for the Badgers.
On the flip side, center Jake Renfro is a game-time decision with a lower-body injury. He will warm up as well, but is ultimately expected to play according to Thamel. That would be a major development for the Badgers. Renfro missed Wisconsin’s Week 2 win over Middle Tennessee and had been battling to return this week for the highly anticipated matchup with the Crimson Tide.
Last week, Wisconsin struggled with some high snaps from Kerry Kodanko, who started in place of Renfro at center. Renfro had dealt with a lower-body injury during fall camp, which sidelined him for a few weeks. But, he was ultimately able to play in the season opener before missing Week 2 after an injury popped up the Monday after Week 1.
On the other side, Alabama is expected to be without starting running back Jam Miller and defensive lineman Tim Keenan III, according to Thamel.
Miller, a 5’10, 221-pound senior, has yet to play this season after suffering a collarbone injury during fall camp. His initial timeline was expected to be in two weeks for Alabama’s SEC opener against the Georgia Bulldogs. But, head coach Kalen Deboer was more optimistic about Miller this week, leading him to be a game-day decision.
Keenan has also yet to play this season after undergoing tightrope surgery for an ankle injury back in late August. Alabama will have wide receiver Ryan Williams, however, after he was cleared from the concussion protocol. Williams missed last week’s game after suffering the injury in the fourth quarter of Alabama’s 31-17 loss to the Florida State Seminoles in Week 1.
Stay tuned for the latest on the injury updates ahead of kickoff!
