Report: Wisconsin Football QB Breaks Hand, Undergoes Surgery

Amid the ugly Wisconsin football game against Iowa, Tanner Mordecai faced an unfortunate setback during the late second quarter. It happened when his right hand came into contact with linebacker Jay Higgins’ helmet while following through on a throw.

The outcome was immediate and unmistakable – Mordecai was in pain and told the staff he couldn’t throw the football. This injury forced him to exit the game for good — leaving the Badgers with no choice but to call upon backup quarterback Braedyn Locke. 

Locke, a redshirt freshman, stepped in and completed 15 of 30 pass attempts for 122 yards, an interception, and two fumbles. 

Wisconsin Football Gets Disheartening Update on Tanner Mordecai 

Pete Thamel, a senior writer at ESPN covering college football, reported on the situation Monday morning. 

According to Thamel, Wisconsin football starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai broke his hand against Iowa, necessitating surgery the following Sunday. During the surgery, a pin was inserted into his hand, and he’s expected to be out of play for the foreseeable future. 

As of now, a specific timetable for Mordecai’s return remains unknown.

In Mordecai’s absence, the Wisconsin Badgers will be moving forward with redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke as the starting quarterback. This injury marks another significant challenge for the team. It adds to their ongoing struggles due to injuries, including the loss of RB Chez Mellusi, who is out for the year with a fractured fibula.

If this does indeed mark the end of Mordecai’s season or, at the bare minimum, his foreseeable future, his season statistics are worth noting.

Though six games, Mordecai completed 114 passes out of 179 attempts, accumulating 1,127 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. He carried the ball 51 times on the ground, gaining 161 yards, and scored four rushing touchdowns.

This is crushing news for the Wisconsin football program, which will now need to rally behind Locke as the QB1 of the Badgers. 

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