All signs point towards the Wisconsin Badgers returning to the field this weekend against the Michigan Wolverines in what will be their first game in 3 weeks.
Head Coach Paul Chryst met with the media today and discussed the contest, his experience with COVID-19 and the current COVID-19 status with the team.
Related: 3 things to watch for against Michigan this weekend
The main message: it is great to be back with the team and begin a normal week of preparation, though there is still a lot up in the air about who will be able to suit up on Saturday.
Chryst opens the presser saying "It's good to be back"
Also said they were able to do some things as a team last Friday, but "It was great to get everybody back together and start a regular week of preparation"
— Ben Kenney (@benzkenney) November 9, 2020
Chryst was asked specifically about the depth chart and how many players will miss the game, to which he responded by saying he doesn’t know how it will shake out with when players can return to practice and whether they will have enough practice time to get ready.
He did say, though, that there will likely be players that will receive snaps this weekend that “three weeks ago weren’t in that position.”
Related: A senior Badger makes the 2021 preseason Big Ten first team
In terms of redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz (probably the player everybody wants to know about), Chryst said he has returned to football activity and “will have some practice.” Whether that is enough preparation to play against Michigan, like much about the current situation, is yet to be seen.
Per Big Ten rules Mertz can play if he is cleared by a cardiologist and all goes well with his conditioning and practice this week. The outstanding variable at this point is how conditioned he will be after isolating with COVID-19 and whether he has enough practice time to prepare.
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
In terms of his own experience with the virus, Chryst said he “did not have a lot of symptoms” after testing positive.
Stay tuned to BadgersWire as we follow the ongoing story that is COVID-19 within the Badger football program and preview the upcoming contest against Jim Harbaugh and the 1-2 Michigan Wolverines.