MADISON – One week into preseason camp, Jonathan Taylor and Garrett Groshek appear to be Wisconsin’s top two tailbacks – talented, tough and dependable.

The No. 1 question regarding the tailback spot appears to be who will emerge as the third option?

UW practiced in full pads for the first time in camp Thursday and the staff looked at both fifth-year senior Bradrick Shaw and redshirt freshman Nakia Watson.

Shaw, who hasn’t played since suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the 2017 regular-season finale, got some work early. Defenders tried to avoid taking runners and receivers to the ground so Shaw didn’t absorb full hits. He appeared to move much more forcefully and confidently than in the spring, though.

UW coach Paul Chryst said before the opening of camp the staff would be cautious with Shaw, and Thursday was proof of that. Still, it was a good first step in Shaw’s long comeback attempt.

Watson, who got off to a slow start in the spring before showing confidence in the final week, ran hard again Thursday.

“He definitely needed it,” linebacker Chris Orr said of Watson taking a redshirt year last season. “I would say he is running now.

“Last year you could tell he was kind of thinking and trying to find the perfect lane. Now he is just putting his nose down and running, the type of running you saw in him as a recruit before he got here.”

Isaiaah Loudermilk returns; Garret Rand sits

Defensive end Isaiaah Loudermilk, who missed two practices after suffering a minor injury to his left arm, participated in a limited role Thursday.

Meanwhile, fellow defensive end Garrett Rand was given a day off. Rand missed the 2018 season after suffering an Achilles injury in summer workouts.

“I’m taking care of my body today,” Rand said, adding his Achilles felt fine. “I was feeling a little sore so I (thought): ‘I’ll just back off for a bit.’

“It’s not the season yet so I don’t want to screw anything up because I’ve been out for a full year. I don’t want that to happen again. We’re just being safe.”

New-look offensive line

Center Tyler Biadasz and left tackle Cole Van Lanen, both held out of spring practice while recovering from off-season surgery, were limited Thursday.

That forced offensive line coach Joe Rudolph to reconfigure his No. 1 line.

That unit had Tyler Beach at left tackle, Kayden Lyles at left guard, Jason Erdmann at center, Josh Seltzner at right guard and Logan Bruss at right tackle.

Extra points

» Keeanu Benton, a 6-foot-4, 315-pound freshman from Janesville Craig High School, got plenty of work as the No. 2 nose tackle.

» Freshman linebacker Leo Chenal has effectively used his power on blitzes. He used quickness during a one-on-one pass-rush drill. Working against Seltzner, Chenal appeared to use a swim move to avoid Seltzner’s attempted block and breezed into the backfield.

» Safety Eric Burrell had an active day in drills and 11-on-11 work. He used a bull-rush to overpower tight end Jake Ferguson in a one-on-one pass-rush drill and defended three passes. He broke up a pass from Chase Wolf and intercepted a pass thrown by Jack Coan and another from Graham Mertz.

» Safety Scott Nelson, Orr and Groshek made up the trio of blockers in front of punter Anthony Lotti during practice.