Madison, WI - The first week of spring practice is in the rearview mirror for Wisconsin football. As the intensity level increased, the Badgers strapped on the shoulder pads for the first time on Tuesday.
First-year Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes will use the 15 spring sessions to overhaul the widely-maligned UW offense. With a brand new set of quarterbacks in Madison, the former Kansas Jayhawks OC is working to get his unit prepared for a Thursday night game in Week 1 against the Miami Redhawks.
However, even before the pads went on, Grimes lost one of his offensive weapons to injury.
On Tuesday, Trech Kekahuna was not practicing on Barry Alvarez Field inside Camp Randall Stadium. Instead, the Badgers wide receiver was roaming the sideline observing his teammates.
More than that, the pass-catcher was wearing a large boot on his left foot.
A team spokesperson told All Badgers that Kekahuna has a "lower-body injury." The injury will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the spring, but he is expected to be fully healthy when Wisconsin returns for fall camp.
#Badgers wide receiver Trech Kekahuna was seen in a boot on his left foot today. He is OUT for the remainder of spring practice with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to be fully healthy for fall camp per a team spokesperson.
— Kedrick Stumbris (@KedrickStumbris) March 18, 2025
The redshirt sophomore had been expected to become a key part of Grimes' offensive plans. After initially entering the transfer portal this offseason, Kekahuna opted to return to Madison in 2025.
Following starting slot receiver Will Pauling's departure via the transfer portal, Kekahuna is the heir apparent for Pauling's targets. In 2024, Kekahuna saw the fifth-most snaps among Badgers wide receivers with 316. The Honolulu native tallied 25 receptions for 339 yards. He scored two touchdowns in his redshirt freshman campaign, both coming in a blowout victory over the Purdue Boilermakers.
This spring, the Bishop Gorman product was taking snaps with the offense led by "QB1" Billy Edwards, Jr. Showcasing the former three/four-star recruit's speed, Kekahuna had been utilized in motion behind the line of scrimmage, in punt returns, and the traditional passing game.
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College football analyst Brett McMurphy left the South Carolina Gamecocks off his preseason AP poll ballot. The expectations are high in Columbia, South Carolina, heading into the 2025 college football season. The South Carolina Gamecocks are coming off a season in which they finished 9-4 and nearly made the college football playoffs. However, one college football analyst doesn't view the Gamecocks as a top 25 team. ON3's Brett McMurphy revealed his preseason AP poll ballot, and the Gamecocks were nowhere to be found in the rankings. Nine SEC teams made the cut, but South Carolina was not one of them. A bit of a surprise, as many analysts are high on the Gamecocks thanks to quarterback LaNorris Sellers returning as the starter. It is worth noting that South Carolina lost some valuable names on defense to the NFL draft this offseason. Names like Nick Emmanwori, TJ Sanders, Demetrius Knight, Kyle Kennard and Tonka Hemingway. That's not to say that South Carolina doesn't still have a lot of talent on the roster. Dylan Stewart, Jalon Kilgore and DQ Smith are expected to be defense leaders for the program this year and offensively, Josiah Thompson, Nyck Harbor and Mazeo Bennett will be the names they lean on alongside Sellers. The praise for South Carolina this preseason is warranted but based on McMurphy's preseason ballot, they are still going to have to earn their respect if they are indeed going to be one of the better teams in the SEC this year. South Carolina will open their season against the Virginia Tech Hokies in Atlanta, Georgia.
The New York Jets opted to cut Aaron Rodgers and sign Justin Fields to replace him during the offseason. This kind of commitment to Fields should bolster his confidence, but it could also place a lot of pressure on his shoulders. To this point, Fields has looked solid in training camp, aside from a scary toe injury that was quickly resolved in July. Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently reported that Fields' training camp may have reached a new low over the weekend as the young signal caller struggled. "Justin Fields put together his best practice of the summer to this point on Friday, completing his first 12 passes en route to an excellent all-around performance. The same can't be said about his showing on Saturday, however," Fried wrote. "Fields finished the day an abysmal 2-of-10 in the air, including a drop from rookie tight end Mason Taylor. "Some of his incompletions were catchable balls, but the Jets' passing game struggles on Saturday can largely be blamed on No. 7. Fields did flash his running ability with a 25-yard rushing score on the first play of red-zone drills, but the Jets would like to see more consistency in the air from the starting quarterback. Saturday's scrimmage was far from his best showing of the summer." Fields is a runner first at the NFL level, but his arm is nothing to scoff at. For most of training camp, his arm talent has been better than advertised, but during Saturday's scrimmage, it just wasn't there. A 2 for 10 performance is unacceptable for a $40 million quarterback who was signed to take over the team. The running game should open up the passing game for the Jets, which is going to need to be the case if Fields is going to struggle like this. However, it's just one day of camp. It's nothing to be too concerned about. Just because Fields lost this specific practice doesn't mean he's heading in the wrong direction as a whole.
The NFL preseason is a time for optimism—a chance for fans and coaches alike to dream about overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness. But for Minnesota Vikings fans, there’s one lingering issue that tempers any excitement year after year: the team’s ongoing struggle to find consistency at the kicker position. Now, as training camp unfolds, that familiar uncertainty has crept back in. The Vikings’ current kicker, Will Reichard, is facing scrutiny following a shaky camp performance that has reignited concerns about whether Minnesota can finally close the book on its long, frustrating history with kickers. Minnesota Vikings: A Rocky Start for Will Reichard in 2025 Struggles in Training Camp Will Reichard came to the Minnesota Vikings with high expectations. After being selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he was viewed as a potential long-term solution to the team’s troubles at kicker. For a brief moment early in his rookie season, it seemed like the Vikings had struck gold—Reichard began his career with a perfect 14-for-14 streak on field goals, including four impressive conversions from beyond 50 yards. But things began to unravel. A quad injury midway through the season disrupted his rhythm, keeping him sidelined for four games and impacting his performance upon his return. Over his final five games, Reichard made just 10 of 14 field goal attempts, missing key kicks that left fans uneasy. Fast forward to training camp in 2025, and Reichard’s form appears to still be a work in progress. Reports from camp have described misses on routine field goal attempts, including two inside 40 yards during a recent session. These struggles are especially concerning for a team that frequently finds itself involved in close games where field position and special teams play a pivotal role. Root Causes of Reichard’s Struggles Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels acknowledged earlier this offseason that Reichard’s exhaustive rookie year may have played a role in his late-season slide. “The guy basically played eleven straight months of football without a break,” Daniels said, referencing his college playoff games, Senior Bowl participation, and NFL pre-draft commitments. This demanding schedule, combined with the physical toll of an NFL season, may have contributed to the quad injury and subsequent dip in performance. But excuses, while understandable, won’t satisfy Vikings fans who’ve grown weary of the team’s perpetual kicking carousel. The NFL is an unforgiving league, and the clock is ticking for Reichard to prove he can handle the pressure that comes with being an NFL kicker. The Vikings’ Troubled History with Kickers A Legacy of Heartbreak For much of their history, the Minnesota Vikings have been haunted by a seemingly endless cycle of kicker-related heartbreak. From missed playoff kicks to ill-fated experiments with new talent, the team’s inability to find stability at the position has cost them dearly. One of the most infamous moments came during the 1998 NFC Championship Game, when Gary Anderson—who had been perfect all season—missed a critical field goal that ultimately contributed to the Vikings’ loss. More recently, a missed 27-yard field goal by Blair Walsh during the 2015 playoffs sent shockwaves through a stunned fanbase. These moments aren’t just isolated mistakes; they’ve cast a long shadow over the franchise, leaving kickers who wear the Vikings jersey under unparalleled scrutiny. High Expectations in a High-Pressure Role The psychological toll of being a Vikings kicker is difficult to overstate. For any player stepping into the role, the expectations are sky-high, and even minor errors are magnified. It’s a position where good performance is expected but rarely celebrated, and failure—however fleeting—can define a career. This legacy of intense pressure raises questions. How much of the Minnesota Vikings’ kicker struggles are physical, and how much is mental? With Reichard now under the microscope, the team must evaluate whether his training camp struggles are a short-term hiccup or indicative of deeper issues. What Comes Next for the Minnesota Vikings? Patience or Panic? The NFL preseason offers Reichard a chance to put his training camp woes behind him. Preseason games, while still lower-stakes than the regular season, are a litmus test for kickers. If Reichard can bounce back and deliver reliable performances, he could cement his spot as the team’s starter before Week 1. But if the struggles persist, the Vikings may be forced to revisit their options. With veteran free agents potentially available and camp cuts creating opportunities, Minnesota could bring in competition to push Reichard or provide a backstop in case things continue to go south. Fixing Fundamentals Some factors affecting Reichard’s performance may extend beyond his own capabilities. The kicking operation—the trio of kicker, holder, and long snapper—requires precision. Reports from training camp indicate the team is testing new holding candidates, which could add instability to Reichard’s attempts. Straightening out these technical aspects will be critical as the team evaluates its special teams unit. A Familiar Feeling for Fans For Vikings fans, anxiety over the kicker spot is nothing new. Every wide-left miss or low-pressure shank in camp feels like déjà vu, a reminder of past heartbreaks that are all too fresh in their minds. But while skepticism runs high, so does the cautious hope that this time—finally—the team may find a solution. Final Thoughts The Minnesota Vikings’ search for consistency at the kicker position remains an ongoing saga, with Will Reichard’s training camp struggles adding another chapter to a story that’s defined by frustration and unmet expectations. However, the preseason still offers hope—hope that Reichard can reset and realign before the stakes become real. For now, though, the Minnesota Vikings walk a tightrope. If Reichard can rise to the challenge, stabilize his form, and deliver when it matters most, he could put an end to years of uncertainty. But if the struggles continue, the team must act quickly to avoid letting special teams woes derail another season. For Vikings fans, all they can do is hold their collective breath—and hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is going to need to figure out how to put a rhetorical jigsaw puzzle together this season. At cornerback, the Packers have gone so far as to convert former wide receiver Bo Melton to cornerback in hopes of trying to replace former Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander, who was released this spring. The puzzle and potential combinations may be even more wide open at linebacker, as training camp continues and the 2025 regular season approaches. Isaiah Simmons Standing Out for Packers While it would seem that there is plenty of competition at linebacker, for Green Bay, heralded by some ascending young talent, one veteran is making his presence felt this summer. According to the Packers’ Mike Spofford, Isaiah Simmons has been standing out for the Packers, at linebacker, this summer. “Cooper and Walker are the only ones I’d say offer a lot to the pass rush,” Spofford writes for the team’s official website. “We’ll see about Simmons there. He’s the real wild card in this mix. What I like is the range of body types and strengths. McDuffie isn’t all that big or fast but knows the defense and diagnoses plays to put himself in the right spot. Hopper is a thumper. The other guys can attack, run and/or chase in any direction asked. It’s an intriguing bunch.” Simmons, 27, who spent the past two seasons playing safety for the New York Giants, adds not just a veteran presence but the versatility that comes with experience playing multiple positions to the Packers’ linebacking corps. How the Packers wind up using Simmons remains to be seen, but his physicality upfront alongside a player as dominant and talented as Cooper has the potential to be a significant upgrade for Green Bay in the season ahead.
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