Tyler Van Dyke Leaves Game on Cart with Right Knee Injury Against Alabama

Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke Injured in First Drive Against Alabama

Wisconsin’s quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was carted off the field with a right knee injury during the Badgers’ opening drive against No. 4 Alabama on Saturday. The injury occurred as Van Dyke was tackled by Alabama’s Keanu Koht following a five-yard gain on a third-and-7 scramble. After being helped to the sideline and evaluated in the medical tent, Van Dyke was taken to the locker room.

Van Dyke, who had completed all five of his passes for 16 yards before the injury, was replaced by backup Braedyn Locke. Despite the setback, the Badgers managed to score a field goal on their first drive. Locke, a redshirt sophomore, stepped up as he did last season when he replaced Tanner Mordecai after Mordecai’s injury against Iowa. Locke led Wisconsin for the remainder of the game and is familiar with the role of starting quarterback due to previous experience.

This season, Van Dyke was brought in from Miami to provide the Badgers with seasoned quarterback play, having started 28 games for the Hurricanes over the past three years. His strong arm and ability to run the read-option offense made him a key player for Wisconsin, especially with the other quarterbacks on the roster having limited starting experience.

Van Dyke’s career has been marred by injuries, including a serious AC joint sprain in 2022 and a Morel-Lavallee lesion in his right knee last season. Despite these challenges, he has been effective this year, completing 43 of 68 passes for 421 yards and one touchdown, along with a rushing touchdown in the season opener against Western Michigan.