Billy Edwards Jr. injury update: Luke Fickell addresses potential of medical redshirt for Wisconsin QB

Billy Edwards continues to rehab his sprained knee that he suffered during Wisconsin‘s season opener. The senior timeline for return has been vague — and there’s potential that he could take a medical redshirt this year to preserve eligibility.

Badgers head coach Luke Fickell revealed his perspective on Edwards, who was supposed to be Wisconsin’s QB1 this season, potentially being out for the rest of the season. However, Fickell isn’t opposed to putting him in down the stretch if his health allows.

“I don’t know, to be honest with you, there’s a lot of variables of those things. I don’t know, 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,” Fickell said during his Monday press conference.

“But again, if Billy can go, I have every means to say, let’s play him. It’s really going to come down to what he can and can’t do. 

Still if there’s an opportunity for him to return, Fickell plans on giving him the start. Until then, he’ll listen to the medical staff on Edwards’ status moving forward.

“Am I hopeful that we see Billy play the last four games of the season? Yes,” Fickell said. “Would I be the last three? Yes? Would it be the last two? Yes? Would 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.”

Edwards was able to start against Maryland, his former team, but didn’t make it past the first quarter before being taken out of the game with the injury. With two games played this season, Edwards could potentially earn a medical redshirt if he applies.

This would grant Edwards, a fifth-year senior, one more year of eligibility. He could either stay at Wisconsin or use it to play his last season of college ball elsewhere. Edwards began his career at Wake Forest where he took his initial redshirt before playing the next three seasons for Maryland.

2025 was supposed to be his final ride in the college game, but his nagging knee injury has presented the possibility for one last hoorah. For now, he’ll continue his rehab as both Danny O’Neil and Hunter Simmons have taken over center for the Badgers, though Simmons has earned the last four starts.