UW wide receiver A.J. Taylor will miss the rest of the season after getting hurt at Minnesota

Jeff Potrykus | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

INDIANAPOLIS – Senior wide receiver A.J. Taylor, who suffered a right leg injury in the regular-season finale at Minnesota, has played his final game for Wisconsin.

UW officials on Friday announced Taylor will miss the remainder of the season.

The Badgers (10-2) face Ohio State (12-0) on Saturday in the Big Ten title game and will play in a bowl game still to be determined.

Taylor suffered a non-contact injury while catching a pass near the UW sideline with 9 minutes 20 seconds left in the first half of the Badgers' 38-17 victory over the Gophers. He was on crutches after the game but was able to participate in the ceremonial chopping down of the goalposts after the Badgers regained Paul Bunyan's Axe.

Taylor recorded 23 receptions for 267 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games this season. He rushed six times for 34 yards.

He caught two passes for 10 yards in the victory over Minnesota. Taylor had a 26-yard-touchdown reception in UW's 38-7 regular-season loss to Ohio State.

"A.J. has meant so much, not just to this team, but to the program," UW coach Paul Chryst said Friday during the head coaches' news conference. "Always have admired the way he has gone about every day.

"An unbelievable worker, leader on this team. Cares about the guys.

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"And I also think a heck of a football player."

Taylor, from Kansas City, Missouri, started 10 games and played in 40 for UW. He finishes with 89 catches for 1,316 yards and 10 touchdowns.

According to Chryst, Taylor stayed back in Madison rather than travel with the team.

"It was good to see him; he was at the facility today," Chryst said. "We've been spoiled because A.J. hasn't missed games."

Offensive lineman David Moorman (left ankle) and cornerback Rachad Widgoose (left leg) are questionable for the title game.

Moorman lasted one series against Minnesota before being replaced by Kayden Lyles.

Wildgoose was held out of the game. UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard went with Faion Hicks, Caesar Williams and freshman Semar Melvin as his top three cornerbacks.

Williams played his best game at UW. He finished with an interception and four passes broken up. He broke up passes on back-to-back plays in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, with the Gophers facing third-and-goal and fourth-and-goal at the 4.

Melvin gave up a 51-yard touchdown pass on Minnesota's first series but regrouped and played well the remainder of the game.

Hicks recorded three tackles.

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Ohio State coach Ryan Day didn't mince words when asked if tailback J.K. Dobbins will be motivated after seeing UW's Jonathan Taylor named the Big Ten's top running back.

"I'm not speaking for J.K.," he said, "but if it was me I'd ask: 'What else do I need to do?'

"I think he deserves to be considered the best running back in the country. That hasn't necessarily been the case. I know that bothers him and I know he runs with a chip on his shoulder because of that."

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