The Wisconsin football team has released its initial availability report ahead of its matchup with USC this Saturday evening. Some players are trending in the right direction after missing time, but a couple of names on the report weren’t expected.
Here’s where things stand three days ahead of the matchup with the Trojans.
Austin Kawecki is trending in the right direction
Starting center Austin Kawecki left in the middle of the Badgers’ game with Michigan State in Week 5. With a bye week to rest, there was hope he would be back for the Badgers’ road game against UCLA in Week 7.
Whether he just wasn’t quite ready or the Wisconsin staff wanted to play it safe, he stayed out against the Bruins, with more than half a season left. Stylz Blackmon, who had been playing right guard, moved to center to replace Kawecki, while PJ Wilkins slotted into guard.
Now, Kawecki has been upgraded to ‘Probable’ ahead of the Badgers’ matchup with the Trojans. Kawecki’s return would be a nice boost for the offensive line that struggled mightily against UCLA last week.
A pair of starters are ‘questionable’ for Saturday
Two starters popped up on the report this week that we didn’t expect. Wide receiver Malachi Coleman and cornerback Javan Robinson are both listed as ‘questionable’ for Saturday.
Javan Robinson has been the most consistent cornerback for the Badgers this season. If he misses the game, it would be a massive blow to the defense, especially in a week when they face one of the best passing quarterbacks in the country, Jordan Maiava. On top of that, the cornerback depth has already taken a hit this year after Cai Bates was lost for the season with a knee injury early in the year.
Losing Coleman wouldn’t be ideal, either. But the passing attack for the Badgers has been inconsistent, and even after his breakout game against Notre Dame in Week 1, he hasn’t been the force we all hoped he’d be.
Fortunately for the Badgers, they just got Jaylon Domingeaux back from injury last week and caught a pair of passes, so there is at least some more depth at receiver.
RB Nate Palmer remains ‘doubtful’
The Badgers got Abu Sama back off the injury report last week, but injuries remain at the position. After missing last week’s game against UCLA, Nate Palmer remains ‘doubtful’ for this week’s game.
Palmer has received only a handful of carries this season, but he has been a constant presence on special teams and the team’s primary kick returner, returning six kicks for an average of 28.2 yards per return.
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