Wisconsin could be thin at the wide receiver position when it visits Rutgers for a Big Ten matchup Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J.
Wisconsin’s Will Pauling, Bryson Green and Tyrell Henry each sustained a lower-body injury in the first half of last Saturday’s 52-6 victory over Purdue. Pauling is second on the team in receiving yardage with 21 receptions for 202 yards and a touchdown this season. Green has 12 catches for 154 yards, and Henry has one catch for 12 yards.
“We’ll take it day by day,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said Monday. “Hopefully, though, those guys will be able to go. But if they’re not able to practice, it’s really hard to think they’re going to perform in a game.”
Despite the depleted wide receiver corps, the Badgers (3-2, 1-1) outscored Purdue 31-0 in the second half. Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke completed 20 of 31 passes for a career-high 359 yards and three touchdowns in the win, which ended a two-game losing streak.
“You know, we’ll create a plan on what they like to do offensively, but we’re going to have to stop the run and the pass,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “And then when you flip them over on defense, they are really well-coached. Very sound. Big up front. They can run at linebacker and (are) really experienced in the secondary. So definitely a great challenge.”
Rutgers (4-1, 1-1) is coming off a 14-7 loss at Nebraska. The Scarlet Knights recorded four sacks and held the Cornhuskers to 55 yards of offense in the second half, but the Rutgers offense was 2-of-14 on third down.
Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai ranks second in the Big Ten in yards rushing per game (133.4), but Nebraska limited him to 78 yards on 19 attempts. Monangai has run for 667 yards and six touchdowns on 116 carries this season.
“I think he is, I wouldn’t say the heart of the team, but the heart of the offense, meaning that he’s going to get his touches,” Fickell said. “And as he goes, they go. … He’s a physical, downhill back.”
Wisconsin has won all five meetings between the programs and prevailed 24-13 last season in Madison, Wis.
