With news this morning that Wisconsin football is trending towards playing against Michigan this weekend, the next big question at the front of all Badgers fans minds is can starting QB Graham Mertz play?
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The redshirt-freshman QB initially tested positive for COVID-19 on October 24 per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and the Big Ten has a strict 21-day policy for returning to play. With Mertz’s first test coming on October 24, this Friday, November 13, would be his 21st day in conference protocol. UW has not confirmed this timeline, but if the initial report about when Mertz tested positive is true it would hold up. He would be eligible to play in games starting then, and would be eligible to play in this Saturday’s Michigan game. Would that be likely without any practice time? Turns out Mertz can be on the field before Friday.
Per Big Ten protocol, if the Kansas native is cleared by a school cardiologist he can begin an “activity progression” 15 days after his initial positive, which would have been yesterday, November 8. If each step of this progression is cleared by a team physician, Mertz can be back at practice this Wednesday through Friday in preparation for the Wolverines.
THREAD: #Badgers QB Graham Mertz can play against Michigan, if he is cleared by a cardiologist and all goes well with his conditioning and practice this week.
Day 21 for him would be this Friday. On day 15 (yesterday), he can begin an “activity progression” per BIG protocol.
— Asher Low (@alow_33) November 9, 2020