What Fickell said about status of Wisconsin's Emerson Mandell, Kevin Heywood

MADISON – The status of Wisconsin‘s Emerson Mandell and Kevin Heywood has been uncertain for weeks. What’s a few more days.

It’s likely that it won’t be until game day that we learn if the starting right side of the Badgers offensive line will play against No. 5 Notre Dame on Sept. 6 at Lambeau Field.

“There aren’t decisions made completely on a lot of guys just yet,” UW coach Luke Fickell said Aug. 31 during a weekly news conference at Camp Randall Stadium. “We’ll have to figure that thing out as we get closer to game day.”

Mandell, a right guard, has been recovering for a foot surgery he had in the spring. Heywood, a right tackle, suffered a lower body injury during the second day of camp and didn’t return in a full capacity for the rest of camp.

At the end of camp the two were doing individual work during practice. After the final day of camp Aug. 23, the two were running sprints on the practice field north of the stadium following a team scrimmage.

It sounded like their recovery took another step since camp ended Aug. 23.

“Both of them took some reps today, as far as a lot of guys took reps today,” Fickell said. “But that’s the one spot probably on the offensive line that this week is going to be a lot of determining factors.”

If Mandell and/or Heywood can’t play, UW will lean on two players who received a lot of work with the first unit in camp but overall are inexperienced.

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Right guard Stylz Blackmon, who emerged late in camp as the front-runner to fill in for Mandell, is a transfer from Division II Augustana. The junior has impressed since his arrival to UW but has never played against an FBS opponent.

Right tackle Lucas Simmons-Johansson has been the No. 1 player at the position since Heywood’s injury, but, according to offensive line coach Eric Mateos, he never played the right side until now.

Mandell, on the other hand, started every game last season, including the final 11 matchups at right tackle.

Heywood hasn’t seen game action since his freshman season, but he was on track to be the starter during the spring of 2025 before suffering his knee injury.

Heading into fall camp he was also the starter at left tackle in the spring of 2024 when he suffered a season-ended ACL tear.

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His latest injury appeared to be related to his right foot/ankle as he wore a boot brace on the leg after the injury.

“I think this is where we have to be smart in all the things that we’re doing,” Fickell said. “We know this is a huge game in Game 1 and kicking off  (the season) the way we’re kicking off in Lambeau against Notre Dame, but we also understand there’s a journey here.”

Offensive line was a focal points of the Badgers rebuilding during the offseason. They hired a new coach for the position, Mateos, and signed five players from the transfer portal.

Four four of those players are in the projected two deep.

“I bet you you will see a lot of guys play,” Fickell said. “I’m not saying that in Week 4 that’s what we want, but I think as this journey begins, we know that there are some things up front that guys have worked. Guys have provided some things; they’ve earned the opportunity to be able to play.”

The Badgers will be tested by a defensive line that is arguably the strongest part of a defense that returns 11 of its top 12 tacklers.

The Fighting Irish have length, depth and projected NFL players.

“There’s no doubt that it’ll be a challenge for us up front,” Fickell said. “I’m not going to say it’s going to be the best defensive front we play the entire year, but if it’s not the most talented defensive front, it’ll be one of the most talented defensive fronts.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What Fickell said about status of Wisconsin’s Emerson Mandell, Kevin Heywood