Billy Edwards injury update: Status of Wisconsin QB revealed vs. Michigan

Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. isn’t expected to start against Michigan on Saturday, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed this report. Edwards is battling a lingering knee injury.

Edwards started in Wisconsin’s Week 4 loss against Maryland but left the game in the first quarter. Before leaving the game, Edwards completed 1-of-his-3 pass attempts for 45 yards.

Edwards initially injured his knee in the second quarter of Wisconsin’s season-opening win over Miami (OH). At first, Edwards’ injury was feared to be season-ending because it was non-contact. However, Edwards’ MRI came back clean.

Edwards finished the season-opener with six completions for 68 yards. He neither threw a touchdown, nor an interception. Edwards didn’t play Weeks 2 and 3 for Wisconsin. Danny O’Neil started in his absence.

O’Neil led Wisconsin to a comfortable win over Middle Tennessee State, but Wisconsin fell 38-14 to Alabama in Week 3. As previously mentioned, the Badgers also lost to Maryland on Sept. 20. They played three quarterbacks in the outing.

Wisconsin had a bye last week and will look to bounce back this week. However, the team would certainly like to have Edwards behind center. Edwards transferred to Wisconsin this past offseason from Maryland.

Edwards started 11 games for the Terrapins in the 2024 campaign, completing 65.0% of his pass attempts for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns, compared to nine interceptions. He was ranked the No. 24 QB in On3’s 2025 Transfer Portal Player Rankings.

While Billy Edwards Jr. hasn’t had a chance to fully put his skills on display yet this season, he impressed Wisconsin’s coaching staff during the offseason. In June, Badgers offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes raved about Edwards.

“His preparation and his willingness to study and be ready for every single day is phenomenal, maybe the best I’ve been around,” Grimes said. “He allows us to be as multiple as we are.

“You watch us practice and you see the multiple formations and shifts and motions, and you see the quarterback directing things at the line of scrimmage. That takes a lot of work. We wouldn’t be able to do the things we’re doing, in terms of pure volume schematically, if we didn’t have a guy like him.”

Wisconsin and Michigan will face off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday. The game will air live on FOX. Wisconsin hasn’t revealed who will be its starting quarterback.