UW’s Berger could return for bowl game
MADISON – Wisconsin freshman tailback Jalen Berger is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday, when UW faces Wake Forest in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
However, head coach Paul Chryst didn’t sound optimistic the Badgers will have wide receivers Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis.
“Jalen has been able to practice,” Chryst said during a Zoom session on Monday. “That’s been good, really good.”
Berger leads UW in rushing with 267 yards despite missing three games and having the third-most carries among the top three tailbacks (45). He did not play in the opener against Illinois and missed the Iowa and Minnesota games after testing positive for COVID-19.
Pryor has missed three games because of an unspecified injury. His last action came in the 14-6 loss against Indiana. He has eight catches for 119 yards.
Davis hasn’t played since the Michigan game. He has three catches for 78 yards and a touchdown and has rushed eight times for 69 yards and a touchdown.
“K.P. and Danny haven’t done much,” Chryst said, referring to practice in preparation for the bowl game.
Ferguson mum on plans
Redshirt junior tight end Jake Ferguson, nearing the end of his best season at UW, was asked whether he plans to return to UW in 2021.
“Just focusing on the Mayo Bowl,” he said.
Ferguson, 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, enters the bowl game leading UW in catches (29), receiving yards (284) and touchdown catches (four).
He is averaging 4.8 catches per game and 48.1 receiving yards per game, both his best marks at UW. His previous best marks came in 2018, when he averaged 2.8 catches per game and 35.1 receiving yards per game.
Family time
Although no tickets are being sold to the general public for the bowl game, family members of the players, coaches and other staffers will be allowed to attend.
Ferguson noted Monday the players have missed the usual time spent with family and friends after games, home or away.
“I haven’t seen my dad pretty much since the start of quarantine,” said Ferguson, who was able to see his mother after the Minnesota game because she tested negative for COVID-19. “It’s tough because your family isn’t coming to the game. They’re not talking to you after the game.”
Isolation woes
One issue that hasn’t garnered much attention is how having to spend 10 days in isolation after a positive COVID-19 test can affect players mentally.
“You try to touch base with them (virtually),” Chryst said. “Each one is different. Some guys handle that better than others.
“Some are kind of comfortable in that (environment) a little bit more naturally. And others truly need to be around people.
“So for each guy it has been different, but I don’t think it is ever easy.”