Wisconsin football transfer OLB sidelined for spring practice after surgery
Wisconsin Badgers edge rusher Mason Reiger underwent surgery and is expected to miss time during spring practice.
The first transfer portal addition that the Wisconsin football team made this offseason isn’t starting his tenure with the Badgers as he envisioned.
Senior edge rusher Mason Reiger announced on Instagram that he had undergone surgery to correct a right leg injury, which is expected to have him sidelined for an extended period of time.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. We are all given strength by God to continue on our paths. I am beyond thankful for the help he has given me up to this point and am praying that he stay by my side as I continue on,” Reiger wrote. "I still credit myself for my mindset every single day and my determination to fight through adversity but I would be a fool to deny that I’m being helped by God.
“Dear God, thank you for watching over me and giving me strength to keep going. Thank you for giving me the toughest battles to be able to highlight that strength. I ask that you please continue to guide me and heal me throughout this recovery process so that I can continue to glorify you in every way possible.”
Wisconsin’s pass rush takes a hit
Reiger was one of Wisconsin’s most significant transfer portal additions this offseason, and the expectation was that he would provide an immediate shot in the arm to a defensive front that struggled mightily in 2024.
The Badgers’ defense combined for just 13 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while ranking 128th out of 134 teams in havoc rate last season, an area Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel made a priority to fix (again) this offseason.
Wisconsin pursued Reiger aggressively in the portal, securing his commitment following his official visit to Madison in December. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound edge rusher was a highly productive player at Louisville before missing the entire 2024 season due to knee surgery.
In 2023, the former walk-on was one of the Cardinals’ top defensive playmakers, recording 22 total tackles, 22 pressures, 6.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
According to Pro Football Focus, he posted an 80.1 overall defensive grade, including an 80.8 pass-rushing grade and a 70.5 mark as a run-defender. His ability to play both play outside and put his hand in the dirt on the defensive line made him a valuable addition to Wisconsin’s front seven, which has undergone a significant overhaul this offseason.
What it means for the Badgers
With Leon Lowery Jr. transferring to Illinois this offseason and John Pius exhausting his eligibility, the Badgers needed to add proven pass rushers to their outside linebacker room capable of playing right away.
Reiger was expected to step in and compete for immediate playing time under coach Matt Mitchell, joining a room that includes Darryl Peterson, Aaron Witt, Sebastian Cheeks, Thomas Heiberger, Micheal Garner, Ernest Willor, and incoming freshmen Nicolas Clayton, Samuel Lateju, and Jaylen Williams.
Now, Reiger's timeline, at least for now, is up in the air. Missing spring ball isn’t ideal, as it delays his ability to acclimate to Wisconsin’s system and build chemistry with his new teammates. However, if Reiger's fully cleared by summer, he’ll still have time to get up to speed physically and carve out a significant role—if not a starting role—before the season kicks off.
If you’re looking for a glass-half-full takeaway, Reiger’s absence gives coach Fickell and his staff a chance to evaluate some of the younger players in the outside linebacker room. With extra reps up for grabs this spring, guys who might not have seen as much action will get a valuable opportunity to develop and prove they belong in the rotation when fall camp rolls around.
Reiger’s recovery will be something to monitor as Wisconsin looks to improve a front seven that struggled to generate pressure last season.
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