The injury-depleted UW football team has lost two more starters for the season, head coach Bret Bielema announced Monday at his weekly news conference.
Cornerback Allen Langford and defensive tackle Jason Chapman, both juniors, sustained season-ending knee injuries, which will require surgery, in Saturday's 38-17 loss at No. 1 Ohio State.
Langford left the game late in the first quarter after being blocked at his knees by Buckeyes sophomore wide receiver Brian Hartline. Bielema said he was agitated"" because there was no flag thrown. The play will be reviewed this week by Big Ten officials.
As of Monday, true freshman Aaron Henry, who has been impressive in his first season, is listed at No. 1 on the depth chart. Bielema noted that senior Ben Strickland and sophomore Josh Nettles, both listed as backups, will receive more opportunities in the next two weeks.
Chapman left the contest in the fourth quarter. He will be replaced at left tackle by junior Mike Newkirk, who has been starting at left end for the Badgers. Senior Kurt Ware will then replace Newkirk at left defensive end. Seniors Brandon Kelly and Jamil Walker, as well as sophomore Dan Cascone, will see the field more often as a result, Bielema said.
""One thing we have is a couple of senior defensive ends - Kurt Ware, Brandon Kelly and Jamil Walker,"" Bielema said. ""[I told them] if you really want to do something for this team, and in this stretch be remembered for helping us out, this is the time to do it.""
Several starters have now been lost for the season or have missed games due to injury.
Senior wide receiver Luke Swan is out for the year with a torn hamstring, while wide receiver Paul Hubbard, another senior, missed five games due to a sprained knee. Guard Andy Kemp has also missed the last three contests with a broken hand.
Other injury updates
According to Bielema, preliminary X-rays done on junior tackle Eric Vanden Heuvel's leg were negative. However, the starting right tackle was still experiencing ""significant pain"" Sunday, so he underwent more tests Monday.
Vanden Heuvel, who left in the third quarter, was replaced by sophomore Jake Bscherer in the lineup. Vanden Heuvel remains at No. 1 on the depth chart for this week.
Fifth-year senior Danny Kaye is another option at the tackle position, Bielema pointed out.
Bielema said, in the past week, the lower leg of sophomore tailback P.J. Hill has been ""extremely sore,"" and stiffened up towards the end of last week, not allowing last season's Big Ten Freshman of the Year to play Saturday.
""Really it's on P.J., whenever he feels he can come back,"" Bielema said. ""I know last week he was frustrated, just wasn't able to push off and actually regressed a little bit at the end of the week from where he was earlier.""
Hill will be further evaluated and a decision will be made based on practice this week on whether he will play this Saturday against Michigan, Bielema added.
True freshman Zach Brown has filled in nicely since Oct. 27, when Hill went down in the first quarter against Indiana. Brown compiled 111 yards and a touchdown in the two games.
Sophomore Lance Smith could also see more snaps this Saturday if Hill is unable to go. Smith has 354 yards and three scores on the year.
Senior Day
This Saturday's contest against Michigan will be the final game at Camp Randall Stadium for the senior class.
This year's seniors have amassed 38 wins as a unit, tied for the most in school history. Bielema said he will give several of his fourth and fifth-year players a chance to speak to the team as the week progresses.
""It's always an emotional day on Senior Day, not just for our seniors but also their good friends, the guys below them, the underclassmen,"" Bielema said.
""Last year, experiencing it for the first time as a head coach, sometimes those underclassmen can get very emotional as well.""
