Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke Sidelined for Season After Knee Injury Against Alabama

Wisconsin's season suffered a significant setback when starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was forced to leave the game against Alabama due to a knee injury. The injury, which was later confirmed to be a fully torn ACL, will require surgery and sideline Van Dyke for the remainder of the 2024 season.Also Read: NFL Week 2 Coverage Map: Full TV Schedule for CBS and Fox Regional BroadcastsWisconsin's football season took an unfortunate turn when quarterback Tyler Van Dyke sustained a season-ending knee injury during their matchup against Alabama. The incident occurred during Wisconsin's very first offensive series when Van Dyke scrambled with the ball and suffered a severe knee injury. Following the injury, he was carted off the field and later reappeared on crutches, signaling a major setback for the team.It has been reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Van Dyke, a fifth-year senior, had suffered a fully torn ACL. His condition will require surgery, which will unfortunately rule him out for the entire 2024 college football season. The injury is especially significant as this was Van Dyke's first season with the Wisconsin Badgers after transferring from Miami, where he had previously played for four years. In his final season with the Miami Hurricanes, Van Dyke threw for 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, completing 65.8% of his passes.Before the injury this season, Van Dyke had played two games, throwing one touchdown without any interceptions. With his season cut short, sophomore Braedyn Locke has now stepped into the starting role for Wisconsin. Locke, who hails from Rockwall, Texas, replaced Van Dyke during the game, completing 13-of-26 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. While Locke showed promise in his relief performance, he faces a challenging road ahead, especially with his first start of the season coming against No. 11 USC on Sept. 28.Locke’s experience is relatively limited, with five games played during his freshman season, where he threw five touchdowns and one interception. Despite this, he will need to quickly adapt to the pressure of being Wisconsin's starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.With Van Dyke out, the Badgers have limited depth at the quarterback position. Locke is the only remaining player with any college experience, leaving true freshman Mabrey Mettauer as the backup and redshirt freshman Cole LaCrue as the third option. This means the team will be relying heavily on Locke to steer them through a challenging schedule, with hopes pinned on his ability to adapt and perform under pressure.Also Read: Taylor Swift joins Brittany Mahomes for a birthday celebration after Chiefs' victory