Wisconsin Badgers Head Coach Luke Fickell Announces Another disappointing News Of A Familiar Player
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell has had to hold more press conferences in Madison than he’d prefer to discuss injuries to his starting quarterback. That trend continued when Billy Edwards Jr. left the team’s season-opening 17-0 victory over Miami, ensuring Fickell would once again address the situation.
While Fickell had little detail immediately after the game, a positive update the next day helped ease the initial concerns about the Maryland transfer’s condition. During his weekly Tuesday press conference, Fickell looked ahead to the upcoming matchup against Middle Tennessee State and shared the most recent update on his starting quarterback.
Billy Edwards Jr. remains listed as the starting quarterback on Wisconsin’s depth chart this week, but that designation seems misleading given the current circumstances.
“It was suggested I start with the quarterback so you wouldn’t ask more questions,” Fickell joked at the start of his remarks. “I don’t think Billy will be playing. He hasn’t practiced, so obviously, Danny [O’Neil] will be our starter.
“Hunter [Simmons] will be the backup, and we’ll go from there,” he added.
Billy Edwards Jr. OUT for Week 2
"I don't believe that Billy will be playing, he didn't practice, so obviously Danny will be who we go with," says Luke Fickell on the #Badgers' matchup with Middle Tennessee.
— Kedrick Stumbris (@KedrickStumbris) September 2, 2025
With Edwards sidelined for this Saturday’s game, backup quarterback Danny O’Neil is set to make his first start as a Wisconsin Badger. The transfer from San Diego State started 11 games as a freshman in 2024. O’Neil stepped in during Wisconsin’s season-opening win over the Miami RedHawks after Edwards went down with an injury. In relief, he completed 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. The 6-foot sophomore also contributed 13 rushing yards, including a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a score.
In each of his first two seasons in Madison, Luke Fickell has had to navigate stretches without his team’s preferred starting quarterback. In 2024, Tyler Van Dyke suffered a torn ACL in Week 3, forcing Braedyn Locke to take over for the final nine games.
Assuming Billy Edwards Jr. is able to return this season, his injury mirrors a situation more like Fickell’s first year at Wisconsin. Back in 2023, starter Tanner Mordecai broke his throwing hand against Iowa and required surgery. Locke stepped in for three games during Mordecai’s absence, with the Badgers going 1-2 in that span.
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