Wisconsin fans have been extremely curious about what's going on in the quarterback room for the Badgers. Whether it's about Billy Edwards Jr., the quarterback who transferred in to be the starter. Or Danny O'Neil, the one who started for San Diego State last year and played backup to Edwards, but somehow has been benched lately. Or maybe Hunter Simmons, who isn't good, but gets favor by Fickell.
Billy Edwards Jr. injured his knee in the opening game of the season. Worked towards being healthy enough to play against Maryland with a big ol' brace, but then tweaked it again. Since then, no one seems to know his health, nor when he will return. Neither does Fickell. Only adding more fuel to the speculation and rumors about Edwards Jr. holding out for a medical redshirt.
Fans have been pushing reporters to ask about this, and so one finally did with this question: "Based on where things stand, is it realistic in your mind that we could see Billy at any point this last month? And if he can't, is a potential medical redshirt on the table? Where are you at on that process?"
Luke Fickell doesn't know when Billy Edwards Jr. will play again or even if he will
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Luke Fickell had a confusing answer that didn't really answer anything. But he started by saying he doesn't know, which has been his stance on Edwards Jr. since the Maryland game. Here's what he said in full:
"I don't know, to be honest with you. There are a lot of variables in those things. I don't even know where the NCAA is on a lot of those things, too. I think it's going to be more and more difficult in some of those situations. But again, if Billy can go, I have every means to say, 'Let's play him.' It's really going to come down to, you know, what he can and can't do. Am I hopeful that we see Billy play the last four games of the season? Yes. Would it be the last three? Yes. Would it be the last two? Yes. Would it be even the last one? Yeah. But I just don't know where that is. And that's what's been as much of a struggle for us to continue to grow as anything. It's just that there's not a cut and dry to injuries, and especially the one that he has."Luke Fickell
It's hard to read through the clutter of coach speak, and Luke Fickell speaks it better than most. But what he's saying as clear as day is that he has no control over Billy Edwards Jr. He doesn't get to decide whether he is playing or not. He's being told whether Edwards will play or not. Maybe by Edwards, maybe by his agent, but it almost feels like it's Edwards' medical team based on that last sentence.
If this wasn't the only time Fickell was baffled by Edwards Jr.'s injury, it would feel different, but earlier this season, after the Iowa game. Fickell described a moment when he ran up to Edwards during the game and asked how long he was going to be out and when he could play again, but he didn't get straight answers. "I was trying to pick his brain a little (during the game) to see where he's at, and you know, I don't really know."
It's all so strange, and you wonder how much Fickell's hands are actually tied in this situation. It's another reminder that we live in a strange world of college football now, where coaches can be just as confused about their star player's availability as the fans.