Wisconsin QB Billy Edwards Jr. Forced Out With Lower-Body Injury in Season Opener
MADISON, Wis.—Not exactly the debut Badgers fans were hoping for. Billy Edwards Jr. lasted less than two quarters in his first game for Wisconsin before limping off early in the second and, pretty quickly, landing in the locker room.
The injury? Non-contact. It just happened—one of those “did he just tweak something or is this much worse?” moments you get in football, and silence fell over the sideline while trainers rushed over.
Jake Starck (@starckie24) reported on X that Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. was seen exiting the field after appearing to suffer a non-contact knee injury. The incident raised concerns, but further details on the severity of the injury have yet to be revealed.
SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) reported on X that Wisconsin's starting quarterback, Billy Edwards Jr., sustained a non-contact injury. Details surrounding the extent of the injury remain unclear at this time.
He handed the ball to Tyrell Henry, turned for a fake, and just pulled up. No dramatic collisions. Nothing you’d see on a highlight reel, just a routine play gone suddenly sideways.
Edwards headed for the tent, and, minutes later—walking on his own, which felt like some consolation—went to the locker room.
The word at halftime: out for the remainder, street clothes, a limp but still talking with his teammates. For now, it’s Danny O’Neil taking snaps, which nobody saw coming. O’Neil’s a transfer out of San Diego State, and let’s just say the offense looked hesitant after the switch.
One short pass, a conversion, then a punt. There’s no rhythm when the game plan changes on the fly. Wisconsin limped into halftime up just 3-0 on Miami (Ohio)—not the statement start folks wanted.
Edwards managed 6 of 13 with 68 yards before the injury. That’s about all anyone got from the passing game before things hit a snag.
The kid arrived at Wisconsin as a transfer from Maryland, where he put up nearly 2,900 yards last year and was eyed as the answer to some serious instability at QB.
This game was supposed to be the reset button after last season’s carousel—Van Dyke, Mordecai, injuries, switches. Instead? Same uncertainty.
Coach Fickell didn’t get too poetic about it after—the usual “we’ll evaluate, we hope for the best”—and, really, what more could you say when your new starter doesn’t make it to halftime? The offense sputtered, and nobody in Camp Randall hid their nerves.
Right now, the Badgers’ quarterback situation is anyone’s guess. Maybe Edwards is back soon; maybe it’s another season scrambling for answers.
Fans have whiplash, and honestly, the whole thing feels weirdly familiar. The only certainty is O’Neil gets the call for now. Everything else? Wait and see.
No sanitized optimism. Just nervous hope on the sideline, some muttered complaints in the stands, and the Badgers crossing their fingers, again.
