Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai suffered a broken hand in his team’s matchup with Iowa on Saturday.
According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Mordecai broke a bone in his throwing hand in the second quarter of the Badgers’ 15-6 loss to the Hawkeyes. After successful surgery on Sunday, Mordecai will be sidelined “for the immediate future,” Thamel reported. Wisconsin will start redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke in his place.
Source: Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai broke his hand against Iowa and had surgery on Sunday. He had a pin put in his hand and hes expected to be out for the immediate future. A specific timetable on his return is unknown. pic.twitter.com/h3C3sgRA0J
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 16, 2023
Across six appearances in 2023, Mordecai completed 114 of 179 passes for 1,127 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed 51 times for 161 yards and four scores. Before he transferred to Wisconsin in the offseason, Mordecai threw for 7,152 yards and 72 touchdowns in two years at SMU and collected 639 yards and two touchdowns in two years at Oklahoma.
Locke did not appear in a game for Wisconsin during his redshirt season in 2022. As Mordecai’s replacement on Saturday, Locke completed 15 of 30 passes for 122 yards and one interception.
In addition to the loss of Mordecai, Luke Fickell’s Badgers squad has been without running back Chez Mellusi since Sept. 23. Mellusi suffered a fractured fibula against Purdue. He had 51 carries for 306 yards and four touchdowns in four appearances as a backup to All-Big Ten ballcarrier Braelon Allen, who has 91 attempts for 559 yards and seven scores this season.
Wisconsin is 4-2 in 2023 with wins over Buffalo, Georgia Southern, Purdue and Rutgers. The Badgers’ losses have come at the hands of Washington State and Iowa.
Ohio State will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, and Camp Randall Stadium to face the Badgers on Oct. 28. The matchup’s kickoff time and television network will be announced on Monday.
