Source: Badgers QB Mertz out 3 weeks with COVID-19

Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz had his COVID-19 obvious test confirmed and could presumably also very successfully be out not decrease than 21 days, a source has confirmed to ESPN.

Mertz, who starred for Wisconsin on Friday in its season-opening grab over Illinois, had an antigen test attain help obvious for the coronavirus over the weekend. He had a polymerase chain response (PCR) test that confirmed the result Monday. Mountainous Ten policy requires any participant who assessments obvious for COVID-19 to fail to see at the least 21 days and believe cardiac screening sooner than being cleared to return.

CBS Sports first reported the affirmation of Mertz’s test.

Wisconsin could presumably also very successfully be the total manner down to its fourth-string quarterback for Saturday’s sport at Nebraska after third-stringer Lope Wolf also tested obvious, per sources, confirmed a Monday night myth by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. If Wolf’s obvious test is confirmed, he also will slouch over not decrease than 21 days sooner than returning to action.

Jack Coan, the Badgers’ projected starter this season, suffered a foot harm in preseason educate and underwent surgical procedure Oct. 6. Coan, who started 18 games the past two seasons, is out indefinitely. Redshirt junior Danny Vanden Increase is expected to impact his first commence in opposition to Nebraska if Wolf can be out.

Vanden Increase looked in three games in 2018, polishing off the largest slouch he attempted for a 3-yard touchdown. After Nebraska, Wisconsin hosts Purdue sooner than visiting No. 13 Michigan.

Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst acknowledged Monday that he could presumably also not comment on any participant’s scheme relating to to COVID-19 checking out or results. Chryst acknowledged he changed into as soon as assured that the Nebraska sport could presumably also soundless be performed. If a team’s positivity fee — the choice of obvious assessments divided by entire decision of assessments administered, in step with a seven-day rolling moderate — exceeds 5%, it would not be allowed to play and the game could be declared a no contest.

Chryst acknowledged he has no field with the Mountainous Ten’s 21-day policy for avid gamers who test obvious, which is more stringent than those of other leagues.

“The No. 1 field for the league, and I love this, changed into as soon as how lift out we finest protect all individuals as safe as that you’re going to be ready to think regarding the virus, after which how lift out you organize the impacts of it when somebody has it,” Chryst acknowledged Monday. “Admittedly, they told us it changed into but again conservative, and if that helps one person, then that’s a correct say for us. We’ve known that there changed into as soon as heaps of labor that went by means of this. For us to play, if that’s something that’s within the largest ardour of all individuals eager, then I totally enhance it.”

In a press originate issued Sunday night, Wisconsin acknowledged it “could presumably not be releasing COVID-connected checking out files regarding any particular person student-athlete, attributable to scientific privateness.”

The impart famend that no participant who participated in Friday’s sport tested obvious sooner than the game or reported any symptoms.

“Wisconsin Athletics continues to behavior day-to-day antigen checking out for the coed-athletes, coaches and selected enhance workers connected to the Badger football program,” the impart be taught. “Participants who receive a negative antigen test result proceed to win part in team actions. Participants who receive a presumptive obvious antigen test result are eradicated from team actions and are required to win a PCR test to verify positivity.”

Mertz, a redshirt freshman, changed into as soon as nearly flawless Friday in a 45-7 grab over Illinois. He done 20 of 21 passes for 248 yards and five touchdowns. He establish of living team data for single-sport completion percentage (95.2) and touchdown passes. Mertz done his first 17 slouch makes an try, matching a team myth for consecutive completions.

A local of Overland Park, Kansas, Mertz is thought of the pause quarterback recruit in Wisconsin historical past. ESPN rated him as the pause pocket passer and No. 21 total participant within the 2019 recruiting class.