On a weekend filled with relief over its first conference win, Wisconsin suffered one of its toughest losses against Illinois Saturday: a season-ending injury to senior tight end Travis Beckum.
Beckum, who returned to Wisconsin football for his senior year instead of entering the NFL draft, fractured his left fibula blocking on a run play in the third quarter. Although doctors at UW Hospital said the surgery went well, Beckum's college football career is over.
Tight ends coach Joe Rudolph called Beckum's injury a huge loss"" for the team and offense.
""He's definitely a playmaker,"" fellow tight end Mickey Turner said. ""We're going to miss that aspect of it, just the big game plays he made.""
But now, with a road matchup against No. 22 Michigan State looming Saturday, the conversation in Badger football shifts toward filling the hole left by Beckum's injury.
""What it does is give opportunities for some other guys to step up,"" Rudolph said. ""I know they'll be excited about it and jump at it.""
Two tight ends in particular - Turner and junior Lance Kendricks - will try to fill the position, as they have earlier in the season. Injuries at tight end have been common for the Badgers this year as Beckum and Garrett Graham both were hurt and missed time earlier in the season.
""Through camp and the first three or four games somebody's been out now and then, and we're all pretty confident that we can fill in for each other,"" Kendricks said.
Kendricks impressed his coaches with his special teams play against Illinois. In a press conference Monday, head coach Bret Bielema pointed out Kendricks' coverage on a kickoff late in the game Saturday, just after the Badgers had taken a 27-17 lead, when he drew a double-team.
""The first guy that hit him from Illinois landed up on his back,"" Bielema said. ""The second guy that hit him landed up on his tail, and then he made a tackle.""
""It was a man amongst boys on that play right there,"" Bielema said.
Bielema said he was impressed with the dedication and quality of play Kendricks has shown, saying he has been ""playing angry"" in the past few weeks.
""It was a very impressive play, and hopefully that stuff will carry over to what he's doing from the line of scrimmage as a tight end,"" Bielema said.
Kendricks echoed that sentiment Tuesday, saying the intensity is ""Something I've got to take with me on offense and on special teams.""
Rudolph said he wasn't sure if Kendricks was ""playing angry,"" but that ""he's gaining confidence.""
""He's shown an amazing amount of growth,"" Rudolph said.
Considering the young and injury-riddled offense, Turner said the tight ends unit will have to ""take it upon ourselves"" to lift up that side of the ball. Both Kendricks and Turner will compete for time in Beckum's absence, but said they believe they can step up and play at a higher level.
""Since he's out, I definitely have to go out there and make plays, but I'm confident and comfortable that I can do it,"" Kendricks said.
Rudolph said Turner and Kendricks are well aware of the competition for playing time in Saturday's game, and they are, ""excited about it.""
Turner mentioned Bielema's 1-0 philosophy in his preparation for this weekend, and said the team - and its tight ends unit - was ready for a physical matchup.
""We've just got to take it like we do every week and come out there with a mindset ready to win,"" Turner said.
