Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz questionable vs. Illinois

Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz questionable for Illinois game

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Oct 4, 2021 2:39 PM ET

The Wisconsin Badgers suffered a harsh 38-17 loss to the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday to fall to 1-3 on the season and had injury added to that insult when quarterback Graham Mertz went down to an unspecified chest setback in the third quarter of that defeat.

Mertz never returned to action, and the Associated Press (h/t ESPN) notes that Wisconsin listed the signal-caller as questionable for Saturday's matchup at the Illinois Fighting Illini.

"I was out there today," Mertz commented after practice. "I'll just go with it day-by-day."

He added: "I feel all right. I'm just kind of taking it day-by-day, getting treatment and trying to get better every day."

The AP explained that Mertz was taken to a hospital on Saturday for evaluation but was released later that day. Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst commented that tests on the quarterback suggested he could be good to go at Illinois.

Chase Wolf replaced the injured Mertz against Michigan and completed 3-of-8 passes for 52 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a fumble lost.

The Fighting Illini, meanwhile, improved to 2-4 on the campaign via a win over the Charlotte 49ers this past Saturday.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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