Wisconsin will likely play the 2024 season without veteran defensive lineman James Thompson Jr.
Reports surfaced last week that Thompson would be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury. Confirmation came on Monday during Luke Fickell’s game-week press conference for Week 1 vs. Western Michigan.
Related: Wisconsin releases two-deep depth chart for Week 1 vs. Western Michigan
“I don’t know that we’ll have (James Thompson Jr.) for the year,” Fickell said. He specified the veteran defensive lineman had surgery last week and has a 4 to 5 month recovery timeline.
Thompson’s injury is a significant blow to a critical position on the Wisconsin defense. The redshirt senior totaled 29 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss, three sacks and two pass deflections in 2023. He was one of the team’s better linemen last season and was expected to break out further in 2024.
Luke Fickell on Wisconsin DL James Thompson Jr.: "It doesn’t look like James is probably going to make it. I don’t know that we’ll have him for the year." Big blow for the Badgers up front defensively.
— Jesse Temple (@jessetemple) August 26, 2024
The Badgers added transfers Elijah Hills (Albany) and Brandon Lane (Stephen F. Austin) at the position this offseason. The group is led by those two, plus returning contributors Curt Neal, Ben Barten and Cade McDonald. The Badgers were set to go six-deep at the position before losing Thompson, their No. 1 option. The team’s depth and performance both take massive hits with this news.
Wisconsin’s first game-week depth chart lists Neal and Barten as the two starters and McDonald and Hills as the primary backups. Lane is sure to play a big role as will true freshman Dillan Johnson.
Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel may need to get creative to offset the loss of Thompson. That, or someone within the room emerges as difference-making option. The team will need the group to perform with preseason No. 3 Oregon, No. 5 Alabama, No. 8 Penn State, No. 23 USC and No. 25 Iowa on the schedule.
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