Speaking with reporters ahead of the Badgers matchup against No. 20 Michigan, head coach Luke Fickell offered some new insight on the lingering injury to starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr.
Since injuring his knee in week one, Edwards Jr. had been slowly ramping up to play, and got a few snaps in against his former team before reaggravating the injury. He left the game after attempting just three pass attempts against Maryland. Now, Fickell has revealed, that playing Edwards might have been a mistake.
"We have to save [Edwards Jr.] from himself, and in some ways-that's probably what I would say I didn't do," said Fickell. "I didnt save him from himself with that game, wanting to play, expecting to play, preparing to play. But the truth of the matter is he probably wasn't in a position where he was ready to play. And that's where we got to do a better job."
Luke Fickell admits they rushed Billy Edwards Jr. back too soon
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It's clear to see why Edwards Jr. might have been pushing to play against his former squad, but apparently he and the team just rushed things too fast. What's worse, is that Fickell also added that it's once again unclear as to when the quarterback might be ready to play again. With a brutal October schedule looming, any more time that Edwards Jr. misses could spell disaster for the Badgers.
Backups Danny O'Neil and Hunter Simmons will continue to fill-in until Edwards Jr. is ready to go. But after rushing him back too quickly once, you can be sure that Fickell and company won't be making the same mistake twice. Could we see him at Michigan? Maybe, but Fickell isn't trying to push him to be back sooner than necessary.