The injury to Wisconsin starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. is the most newsworthy story happening in Wisconsin football right now. According to the quarterback himself, his timeline remains uncertain, but he feels better, which is a positive development. The negative side is that he only referred to his return as "later in the season."
The ambiguity of the injury is leaving fans wondering about the timeline for return, the severity of the injury, and what exactly it is. While Pete Thamel has said his sources indicate it's a knee sprain, Luke Fickell has been positive about a quick turnaround. There's still a lot of unknowns.
#Badgers QB Billy Edwards Jr. on @TheGameMadison.
— Colten Bartholomew (@CBartWSJ) September 2, 2025
“Physically, I’d say I’m pretty good. ... Gotten a lot better over the last 72 hours. … Definitely frustrating, but that’s the game of football.”
Referenced "later in the season" getting back to it. His time sidelined in TBD.
Billy Edwards Jr. said he feels good and his knee has gotten a lot better but the timeline is TBD
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Edwards Jr. joined ESPN Madison for an interview, and in that conversation, he talked about how the last 72 hours have been really good for his knee. He really feels like it's improving a ton as he rests it, but as for the timeline to return, he only mentioned later in the season, which is not a good answer. That sounds longer than just a couple of weeks.
Wisconsin will assuredly be without him against Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Luke Fickell all but confirmed that, leaving little doubt about his availability for at least this week. Beyond that, it sounds like it's a week-to-week decision.
I think Billy Edwards Jr. is preparing himself for a more extended rehab, and not to get his hopes up, while Fickell is remaining positive that the starting quarterback will be back sooner rather than later. The big question is, can Edwards Jr. suit up for Alabama? The Crimson Tide looks a lot more beatable than many assumed initially. While it would still take a lot to pull off the upset, it's not out of reach like all the pundits and even fans assumed.
If Edwards Jr. can go for that game, it would make a big difference. However, it would be far better for him to be back by Big Ten play rather than rushing him for the showdown in Tuscaloosa.
There's some good news in the update, but also some negative news, which might be the nature of a week-to-week injury.