At quarterback, Wisconsin entered the season with four players who the Badgers believed could get the job done. Now, they are down to one for Saturday's game at Nebraska.
According to a report by Jeff Potrykus of the Journal-Sentinel, both Graham Mertz and Chase Wolf have tested positive for coronavirus, so next in line at quarterback appears to be Danny Vanden Boom.
Returning starting quarterback Jack Coan injured his foot in practice during the preseason and is out indefinitely.
For Mertz and Wolf, a positive test that is confirmed would mean, according to Big Ten protocol, that each would have to miss 21 days from the date of diagnosis. That would rule both quarterbacks out for the game Saturday at Nebraska, next Saturday's game against Purdue, and the contest November 14 at Michigan.
Vanden Boom, a redshirt junior, last played in 2018 in three contests, throwing one pass for three yards and a touchdown against New Mexico, according to UWBadgers.com.
In the first game of the season, Mertz threw for five touchdowns while completing 95% of his passes in a record-setting debut, earning him Big Ten co-Offensive Player of the Week as well as Freshman of the Week.
Paul Chryst told reporters Monday that he feels good about the quarterback room, and that he is confident that the Badgers will play Nebraska on Saturday.
Saturday's game kicks off at 2:30 p.m., and can be heard statewide on the Badger Sports Network, as well as on iHeartRadio in Milwaukee, Madison, and Eau Claire.
Photo: Kelli Steffes / UW Athletics
Video: UW Athletics