Speaking Wisconsin Knees » Brats & Beer

August 15, 2006
posted under: Badgers football, injury report, Marviel Underwood, Packers, Pre-season

It has been a couple days since Saturday’s game in San Diego and I’ve tried to calm myself with the thought that it was just the first preseason game and things will get better, but I still can’t shake the feeling that something really ugly is headed this way once the regular season gets going. On an optimistic note, word has it that Ahman Green took over backfield duties in practice yesterday and seemed to spark some life into the running game (albeit in no-tackle drills). Fingers and toes are crossed.

Saturday’s game also spelled the end of the line for Marviel Underwood. The second-year safety didn’t just suffer a knee injury, it sounds like someone detonated C-4 in his leg: Tests after the game revealed damage to both his ACL and MCL. Marquand Manuel, the free agent starter who has been out for most of training camp, was back in practice yesterday after doctors cleared his groin injury, but now the Packers are down to just four healthy safeties on the roster, including Nick Collins, rookie Tyrone Culver (who by all accounts played like a trooper against the Chargers), and rookie Tra Boger.

Speaking of knees and how stupidly unreliable they are, the UW Badgers may or may not have the services of quarterback John Stocco early in the season after he had surgery on Friday. Coach Bielema was not very forthcoming with the details on the reasons for the knee surgery other than to say Stocco had re-aggravated a pre-existing injury and needed the proceedure, nor was he firm on when the starting QB would be ready to rejoin the team. Until his return, Tyler Donovan moves up to the starting spot, a guy who has thrown nine passes in his college career.

I’m not hitting the panic button just yet, but I have alerted Mrs. BratsNBeerGuy to the fact that her husband might be more cranky than usual this football season. The trooper that she is, she hopefully suggested that Iowa State might have a good season, which made me laugh at least. I don’t deserve such a good woman.