Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell hopes to get two key players back for Wisconsin this week
MADISON – Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, whose team opens Big Ten play Friday, sounds optimistic two players expected to fill key roles are moving closer to making their season debuts.
Center Jake Renfro and defensive end Isaiah Mullens, who have been out because of injuries, got limited work in practice last week and could do more this week.
“I would hope maybe this week,” Fickell said Monday. “If not this week, I would definitely expect that after the bye, unless something else happens, that they should be back."
UW (2-1) gets a week off after facing Purdue on Friday and returns to action Oct. 7 against visiting Rutgers.
Renfro, a transfer from Cincinnati, was expected to start at center for UW. He missed almost all of spring practice after suffering a stress fracture in his left leg/foot and then missed time in camp after suffering a right foot injury.
Renfro missed last season at Cincinnati after suffering a knee injury in camp. He last played in the 2021 College Football Playoff semifinal, a 27-6 loss to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.
Tanor Bortolini has started all three games at center with Renfro out.
Mullens missed five games last season after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee. He underwent a minor procedure on the same knee last month.
UW has generally used six linemen without Mullens, who has started 10 games and played in 40 at UW.
More: Tailback Braelon Allen is struggling to catch on as a receiver in Wisconsin's new offense
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin center Jake Renfro, defensive end Isaiah Mullens near return
