Davis remains out with foot injury
MADISON – Danny Davis’ solid run in preseason camp has been halted, at least temporarily.
Wisconsin’s junior wide receiver, who last season led the team in catches (40) and touchdown catches (five), was held out of practice Friday and was wearing a protective walking boot on his left foot. Davis injured the foot Thursday.
Senior wide receiver A.J. Taylor (right leg) was also held out Friday, leaving UW without two of its top three wide receivers.
Redshirt junior Kendric Pryor and walk-ons Jack Dunn and Adam Krumholz got the bulk of the reps with the No. 1 offense Friday with Davis and Taylor out.
“I thought Danny had been playing well,” head coach Paul Chryst said. “I loved his approach and I thought Danny, K.P. and A.J were really attacking it.
“I thought it helped raise up Krum and Jack Dunn. Those five have clearly had the best camp. I like what Danny was doing and I like what the group was doing.”
Ferguson returns to practice
Redshirt sophomore tight end Jake Ferguson, who last season finished second on the team in catches with 36, returned to practice Friday.
Ferguson, who had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, wore a splint on the thumb and a yellow “no-contact” jersey. He participated in individual and team drills.
His best play of the day came during a red-zone drill. Ferguson worked open toward the back of the end zone but the pass from freshman Graham Mertz was high. The 6-foot-5 Ferguson leaped, snared the ball with his right hand, brought it into his body and got a foot down inside the end zone for a touchdown.
The news wasn’t all good for tights coach Mickey Turner, however.
About one hour into practice, freshman tight end Clay Cundiff left the field with a trainer. According to a UW official, Cundiff suffered a head injury.
Forget your mistakes
Junior quarterback Jack Coan, who continues to get the bulk of the work with the No. 1 offense, endured an interesting two-play sequence during redzone work Friday.
On one play, Coan tried to hit Krumholz on a fade route near the goal line. Cornerback Deron Harrell read the play, broke from the inside and made a leaping interception.
On the next play, however, Coan threw a perfect strike in the corner of the end zone to Pryor, who beat cornerback Caesar Williams.
From the infirmary
Defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk (left arm) and cornerback Faion Hicks (right knee) remained out. Reserve defensive end David Pfaff, a fifth-year senior from Homestead High School, suffered a right-arm injury Friday. He was examined by the trainers and did not return.
Dropping the mic
Chryst’s post-practice chat with reporters on Friday ended after he was asked if he was bothered by the rash of errant shotgun snaps in camp. The latest came from Tyler Biadasz and cost UW 16 yards of field position.
Chryst grinned and said: “Thanks Sherlock. You must have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. That’s it.”