A total of 13 Wisconsin football players will sit out of spring practice due to injuries, per UW Athletics. Some of them are already penciled in as starters and have past experience, so the time off won’t be too detrimental, but some could have used the opportunity of spring practice to break through or learn their positions better.

#Badgers not participating in spring drills, per UW. pic.twitter.com/WoAi3Uaaoo — Sconnie Sports Talk (@SST_WI) March 13, 2017

It is not uncommon for players to miss spring practices as it’s a good time to ensure players can get back to 100 percent health. For some players this is more fortunate than others.

Linebackers Chris Orr and Jack Cichy are nursing season-ending injuries and are also locks to get their starting jobs back when healthy, so the extended time off will only benefit their roads to recovery.

Players like junior running back Taiwan Deal and redshirt freshman cornerback Caesar Williams could have made the most of the opportunity spring practice would have given them as both look to break through at their respective positions. Deal at running back will be in competition with sophomore Bradrick Shaw all offseason, and Williams will be looking to replace the likes of Sojourn Shelton in the defensive backfield.

Other notes

David Edwards, once a tight end, is expected to be the team’s starter at left tackle entering spring.

Alex Hornibrook is the starter at quarterback heading into spring ball.

Position changes: Natrell Jamerson to safety from cornerback, Garrett Groshek to running back from linebacker and Hegeman Tiedt to outside linebacker from defensive end.

Spring practice begins this week, as the Badgers get set to start their offseason practices.