Still in contention for a Big Ten football title, Wisconsin should be close to fullstrength when it hosts Indiana at 11 a.m. Saturday.
According to UW coach Bret Bielema, who spoke after practice Thursday: UW (8-1, 4-1) will be without center Peter Konz (ankle). Fifth-year senior Bill Nagy, who played the entire second half at Iowa when Konz was unable to play, probably will start against the Hoosiers.
The status of tailback John Clay (knee), who has started all nine games this season, won't be determined until Saturday.
However, it appears he will be an emergency backup behind sophomore Montee Ball and freshman James White.
"Don't know if he'll get out there," Bielema said of Clay.
White (knee) did not play last week at Purdue but according to the staff has looked outstanding in practice this week.
Ball took over as the primary tailback at Purdue and rushed 21 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior tight end Lance Kendricks (ankle), who was limited to passing plays at Purdue, should return to full-time duty Saturday. "Lance has looked good all week," Bielema said.
Reserve defensive end David Gilbert, who suffered a mild concussion at Purdue, on Thursday passed his cognitive test and has been cleared to play.
Gilbert practiced in a green, nocontact jersey Tuesday and Wednesday. He said after practice Wednesday he felt fine and expected to pass the Thursday test. "I feel ready to hit," he said with a smile. "I'm ready to be the one delivering the hits again." Clay makes cut: Clay on Thursday was named among the 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the top running back in the nation.
Clay, the 2009 Big Ten offensive player of the year, is second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in rushing at 103.2 yards per game.
He leads the league in rushing touchdowns with 13.
With 929 rushing yards this season, Clay needs 71 more to become the sixth running back in school history to have back-toback seasons of 1, 000 yards or more.
The three finalists for the award are to be named Nov. 22. The winner is to be revealed Dec. 9 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
Ewing ready if needed: UW running backs coach John Settle chuckled this week when it was suggested he needed a revolving door given how injuries have forced him to juggle the tailbacks.
According to Settle, junior fullback Bradie Ewing would be used at tailback if the Badgers lost Ball, White and Clay in the same game.
"Bradie was ready to go last Saturday if we needed him," Settle said. "He continues to study and understand the game plan. I have all the confidence in the world if he had to go in and get us out of a game he could do that." Never a doubt: Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge insists his heart kept beating normally even after he saw junior defensive end J.J. Watt go down with a minor shoulder injury late in the first quarter at Purdue.
"Honestly, I knew he'd be fine," Partridge said. "You know. It's almost one of those things where for a minute you hope he is going to be OK.
"But you realize it's J.J. and you (know) he is going to be fine." Extra points: Quarterback Curt Phillips (knee), who has not played this season, recently suffered a setback while running the scout team. Bielema wouldn't comment on what that means for Phillips' future, but at a minimum it appears the redshirt sophomore will be shut down for the remainder of the season. Offensive tackle Josh Oglesby (left knee) recently had surgery and unfortunately for Oglesby the doctors needed to repair his ACL. It is unclear whether he will be ready to participate in spring practice. Freshman Konrad Zagzebski, who signed as a linebacker but has been moved to the defensive line, underwent shoulder surgery Thursday.
