Billy Edwards Injury Update: Wisconsin fans holding breath after QB leaves game early

UPDATE: Wisconsin just announced that quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has been ruled out for the rest of the game due to his lower-body injury. He's back on the Wisconsin sidelines in street clothes.

Here we go again, the first game of the season, and the starting quarterback, Billy Edward Jr., has already left the first game with an injury. To make matters worse, it was a non-contact injury as he came up limping after handing the ball off. He went immediately into the sideline tent and was then escorted off the field.

Billy Edwards Jr. came into the game wearing a knee brace after knocking knees with someone in fall camp. He was wearing it for precautionary reasons, but it looks like there might be a greater issue now.

Slow-motion clip of the Billy Edwards Jr. injury has Wisconsin fans fearing the worst

Billy Edwards Jr. questionable to return with lower-body injury

Update: Billy Edwards Jr. is listed as OUT now for the rest of the game

Related: Billy Edwards Jr. is so excited to play for Wisconsin he might not be able to sleep

Danny O'Neil, the backup quarterback, came into the game and led the drive all the way down towards the endzone, but the Badgers were unable to score on that drive. He looked dynamic and ready to go. O'Neil was the starting quarterback all last season for the San Diego State Aztecs. He has experience, and now it looks like it may be more necessary than originally thought.

This is now the third year in a row that Wisconsin has struggled with a starting quarterback injury. Tanner Mordecai was the first, a few years ago. Then, last year, it was Tyler Van Dyke, and now it looks like Billy Edwards Jr.

Here's the thing, though, Luke Fickell learned his lesson. He said multiple times this offseason that the reason he went out and got three former starting quarterbacks in the transfer portal is because of this exact reason. He didn't want the season to end as soon as the starter went down with an injury. He also wanted an offense that could handle a quarterback injury.

Danny O'Neil impressed at first, and we will see how he performs the rest of the game, but it does seem like the plan for Fickell is already working.

There is currently no update on his injury, except that he went to the locker room. More will come after the game when Fickell addresses it. The official report during the game was "Questionable to return with lower-body injury." It was then changed to "OUT" to start the second half.