Wisconsin Football Fans React to Brutal Quarterback Injury News

The Wisconsin Badgers football program received expected but still devastating injury news yesterday. Following an infuriating loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes, UW needs to find a way to bounce back and finish the season strong. Unfortunately, Wisconsin will have to do that with its starting quarterback.

First reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel and later confirmed by Badgers head coach Luke Fickell, QB Tanner Mordecai is out indefinitely following surgery to his throwing hand. The sixth-year signal caller broke his hand on a play late in the first half against the Hawkeyes last Saturday. The graduate transfer’s short stint in Madison appears to have come to an end even more quickly than anticipated.

What Comes Next for Wisconsin Football After Tanner Mordecai’s Injury?

Redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke will be UW’s starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. The transfer from Mississippi State threw for 122 yards and completed 15 of his 30 passes after coming into the game against Iowa to replace Mordecai. Locke also threw one interception and took a sack that resulted in a safety.

Despite being named the starter, some Wisconsin Badgers football fans are not certain Locke is the correct choice. Several fans hope to see one of the other redshirt freshmen, Myles Burkett or Nick Evers, take reps as the starting quarterback before the season ends.

Or Burkett or Evers. He gets an opportunity and so should others

— Casey Ward (@Badgerbydesign) October 16, 2023

Might be time to give Miles a chance to show what he can do

— Nick Ward (@Nick_Ward__) October 16, 2023

Start Burket or evers

— Cade Buxton (@CadeDB3) October 16, 2023

No, Burkett

— Justin Stefanski (@JustinStefanski) October 16, 2023

No hate towards Locke, but Myles Burkett eats, sleeps, and breathes Wisconsin and is an absolute dog.

I stand with Myles Burkett. https://t.co/RGpUeuzAWp

— Matt LeFleur Burner (@mlfburner) October 16, 2023

Bring in Nick Evers

— Chris (@cgwilcat30) October 16, 2023

Where is Evers 😭

— Eddy Crocker (@MoMoneyEd) October 16, 2023

The New Starting Quarterback for the Badgers Gets Some Love from the Fans

Although not everyone is convinced that Locke should be starting, fans are optimistic about his future in Madison.

I hurt for Mordecai but the #Badgers did need to see what they had in Locke in meaningful moments. Hope he takes the lead and proves to be the guy. https://t.co/cYFItU79R5

— Josh Knegendorf (@joshk70) October 16, 2023

Brutal. Hopefully Tanner can make a comeback.

But I really liked some of what I saw from Locke yesterday. Looked poised and decisive despite playing one of the best defenses in the country.

His next 2 games are going to be really tough though. https://t.co/9OQkUpayf5

— Wisconsin Homer (@wisconsintakes) October 16, 2023

With Tanner Mordecai out for an extended period of time there is a lot of chirping about who should start.

Its going to be Bradyn Locke and no one else.

Not sure the other QB’s in that room have a better command of the playbook or can read defenses better than than Locke.

— wisconsinsane (@wisconsinsane) October 16, 2023

smart move -they werent going anyway further with Mordecai and developing Locke is best upside.

— The‘kee (@lookbryand) October 16, 2023

Braedyn Locke looked poised coming in Saturday and with a full week to prepare as the starter he will be fine. Next man up

— Mark Meddings (@MeddingsMark1) October 16, 2023

#Badgers brought in a stable of highly regarded QBs to be ready for the future.

Looks like the future starts Saturday in Champaign. https://t.co/W0sfpj392J

— 𝖂𝖎𝖘𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖎𝖓.𝖏𝖕𝖊𝖌 (@Ouisconsin) October 16, 2023

Braedyn Locke proving himself as QB1 (before the inevitable Mabrey takeover in 25 or 26 at the latest) would be significantly more valuable to the program than winning the west. That's a fact. Rest of season could be incredibly fun.

— The Chicago Badger-Chris McIntosh Stan (@DaChicagoBadger) October 17, 2023

Wisconsin Football Is a Destination for Mettauer, Mordecai, Top QBs

Par for the course this season. Nothing really has gone as expected. But it’s time to Locke in. Let’s go on a run boys. #OnWisconsin 👐🏻 https://t.co/CztrHSST7Y

— Kamren Bornbach (@1Kamren) October 16, 2023

Man, does this hurt big time, gotta rally behind Locke and get bowl eligible. #OnWisconsin https://t.co/UN2ChH2ZfR

— Big Cheese Sports (@BigCheese_IESR) October 16, 2023

Is this Wisconsin Football Season Already Lost?

After coming into the season with high hopes, the Badgers likely will not live up to lofty expectations. Unless Iowa takes an unexpected stumble, Wisconsin will not win the Big Ten West Division despite being the preseason favorite. With so little hope of achieving the goals set at the beginning of the season, some fans are somewhat numb to the news of Mordecai’s surgery. Others are simply disappointed about the way things have gone this fall.

Definitely not brutal. This team wasn't going anywhere besides an average bowl. Let the young guy get the reps.

— CheddarBalls (@Cheddars_Balls) October 16, 2023

It would be “brutal” if the team was actually playing well and in contention for something. I put it as more of a “well, that sucks” kind of injury.

— Goldy (@goldy17goldy) October 16, 2023

RELATED: What Does Success for Wisconsin Football in 2023 Look Like?

This season has gone off the tracks. If Locke is there best prospect to be QB1 next year, start him. If it’s Evers, start him. This year is now about next year.

— ComeSailAway (@jdheimsch) October 16, 2023

It literally does not matter who is behind center for the Wisconsin Badger’s. The result is the same every year. Unsuccessful

— 🦌 #fearthedeer (@codym06) October 16, 2023

Could not be more "meh, oh well" on the Mordecai news.

— Carly (@carlyks) October 16, 2023

Nobody has it worse than me.

Nobody. https://t.co/z3uSDhuu26

— Hoodie Maybin (@HoodieMaybin) October 16, 2023

NBA starts soon anyways. Go Bucks!

— Jake Schwall (@jake_schwall) October 16, 2023

This just sucks. It’s a transition year to begin with, but now we really won’t know anything about the direction of this program considering the injuries to QB1 and RB1b. Just crushing. https://t.co/wTVlqKASA7

— In Development 🕶️ (@j__1252) October 16, 2023

This is less than ideal https://t.co/zfyYPVw0tY

— Tyler Vander Bloemen (@TurbTyDollaSign) October 16, 2023

Damn. Hits just keep coming. https://t.co/bVvrqZ5uMj

— Eric (@Eric_Johnson79) October 16, 2023

Well this sucks 🙃 https://t.co/Wne6nPooOl

— Tianne Kuula (@tiannejane22) October 16, 2023

Wisconsin Football Fans Hope the Best for Tanner Mordecai

Despite only appearing in a handful of games for the Badgers, Mordecai will not leave Madison without having created his own fans. In six games for Wisconsin football, the former Oklahoma and SMU quarterback passed for 1,128 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions on 179 attempts. He also added 160 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Tough tough break for Tanner, for sure. Remainder of season will be useful to shed light on QB position for next season.

— Bill_Woj (@Slough_Creek) October 16, 2023

Tough news! Hang in there Tanner!

— Jill Cushing (@cushing_jill) October 16, 2023

My heart hurts for Tanner. At the end of the day; rivalries, wins, and losses are all so insignificant when this happens to any player. Wish for a speedy recovery @t_mordecai #OnWisconsin https://t.co/yrMQEGVXPc

— Nothing witty. Just Jared (@limabeansx5) October 16, 2023

Streets won’t forget Mordecheisman’s reign

— Ben Roche (@BenRoche27) October 16, 2023

I guess my Mordecai Heisman ticket is offically dead

— James Moran (@Jiggs44) October 16, 2023

Well that sucks. Mordecai did a good job navigating a timing based offense that gets blown up by his own center every play. https://t.co/86KtlSf4A9

— Mike (@kantwistaye) October 16, 2023

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