Last week, the Wisconsin Badgers received troubling news regarding injuries, as starting defensive lineman James Thompson sustained a significant injury, casting doubt on his participation in the 2024 season.
During his weekly press conference on Monday, head coach Luke Fickell offered some updates on Thompson’s condition, which do not appear promising.
“It doesn’t look like James (Thompson Jr.) will be able to return this season,” Fickell said. “We’re unsure if we’ll see him at all this year. There are many factors we need to assess. It could be a four or five-month recovery process. He had surgery last week, and we haven’t discussed it much further.”
Fickell expressed the gravity of the situation, noting Thompson’s importance both on and off the field. “It’s a significant loss,” he said. “James is a senior who has been a tremendous asset to us. His leadership has been invaluable, especially with so many veterans leaving and the influx of new players this season. He was eager and ready to contribute, and it’s unfortunate that this setback has occurred.”
With Thompson sidelined, Curt Neal and Ben Barten have been named as the starting defensive linemen, while Elijah Hills and Cade McDonald will serve as backups.
Fickell had previously praised the defensive line’s depth during fall camp, indicating that six players would be rotated in the position by the season’s start. With Thompson out, the rotation now consists of five players, with transfer Brandon Lane expected to take on a significant role.
Given that Thompson is unlikely to play this season, he may utilize his medical redshirt and have the option to return for a sixth year in 2025 if he decides to do so.
Overall, this injury is a substantial setback for the Badgers’ defense, which was already grappling with questions about its defensive line and now faces the loss of its most prominent player for the foreseeable future.
