Updating Several Key Injuries 5 Practices Into Wisconsin Football Fall Camp

Wisconsin football had some of the worst injury luck in the country last season.

Left tackle, quarterback and safety were just a few of the positions ravaged by injuries — a mere two games into the 2025 campaign. When all was said and done, the Badgers sustained ailment after ailment to the point where head coach Luke Fickell and strength and conditioning director Brady Collins vowed to change how they approach offseason conditioning.

The Badgers appear healthier than they were at this time last year, but they're still dealing with several key injuries. Badgers On SI has the latest from what we've observed at fall camp:

OT Kevin Heywood

Heywood's injury is the biggest story to come out of Wisconsin football's fall camp thus far. The starting right tackle got hurt at practice No. 2, and hasn't played since. However, he's present at practice and was working a stationary bike in the early portions Tuesday. He's participating as much as he possibly can, even partaking as offensive line coach Eric Mateos made his whole unit do up-downs several times.

Heywood is still around his position group each drill and is still a vocal leader for his teammates even in his limited capacity, which is more than you can say about some of the other injured Badgers. He's clearly doing everything in his power to not miss a beat. While he remains "day-to-day" and doesn't appear too hindered, it's difficult to discern just how much time he could potentially miss.

OG Emerson Mandell

Mandell is another Badgers starting offensive lineman who's currently sidelined. Unlike Heywood, Mandell has missed the entirety of fall camp. And also unlike Heywood, Mandell has spent most of the practices I've attended off to the side, stretching and doing individual rehab work. That's not to imply his injury is more serious than Heywood's, but it's interesting to note how the two lineman have handled their ailments differently.

RB Bryan Jackson

Wisconsin running back Bryan Jackson. | Christian Borman.

Jackson is suited up but has been held out of practice. Behind Abu Sama and Darrion Dupree, his absence has opened the door for Nate Palmer to get more touches in team periods. Jackson doesn't appear all that hobbled, but he's not taking part in any drills, contact or otherwise. He has, however, been one of the offense's biggest hype man on the sideline after a good play.

QB Danny O'Neil

O'Neil likely isn't a part of the Badgers' plans for 2026 after a rocky debut season in Madison ended with a serious lower body injury. If he was healthy, he'd be the fourth-string quarterback, at best.

Tuesday morning, however, he took part in both individual and team drills, getting a few throws in his limited reps. Again, I don't expect O'Neil to be relevant this fall, but it's worth noting that he appears to have made strides in his recovery during camp.

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