A collective hush fell over University of Wisconsin football practice about an hour into Monday's session.
The first practice of training camp in Camp Randall Stadium had the feel of a night game when suddenly the vibe turned. Starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. took himself out of an 11-on-11 period with pain in his knee. Edwards appeared to have banged knees with outside linebacker Sebastian Cheeks a play before he walked away from the huddle and spoke to a trainer.
Edwards walked to a tunnel in the stadium to get checked out. He did not return to action but ran for a bit after practice and told reporters he was fine.
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"When you get a little bit of a stinger, took probably 10 minutes to walk it off," Edwards said. "Definitely nothing that adrenaline in a game wouldn't help me keep rolling through."
The offense, which wasn't having a strong performance even with Edwards, was shaky until the final few periods of practice. There were mistakes under the direction of Danny O'Neil and Hunter Simmons -- the players competing to be QB2 -- but some highlights as well.
Here are four observations from Wisconsin's first practice since its return from Platteville.
Danny O'Neil saves best for last
O'Neil, a sophomore who transferred from San Diego State over the winter, didn't have his best showing in the team's scrimmage Saturday at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium in Platteville. He overthrew deep balls and seemed to be off in his timing with throws across the middle. That left him in need of a bounce-back start to a pivotal week in the backup quarterback competition.
O'Neil took more first-team reps than Simmons did after Edwards' injury scare, but it wasn't until late that he started to fire on all cylinders. The spark seemed to be a competition to Trech Kekahuna on a corner route down the right sideline.
He threw a dart on a similar pattern to Tyrell Henry in the same set of plays, then finished his day with an eight-play sequence that featured two quick-decision throws to tight end Tucker Ashcraft across the middle and a deep shot to Jayden Ballard along the left sideline. O'Neil also faked out safety Matt Jung on an option play that saw the quarterback pick up roughly 20 yards before he was close enough to a defender to be considered tackled.
O'Neil and Simmons each have moments that impress, but consistency remains a struggle for both.
Ben Barten best suited for new role
Senior defensive lineman Ben Barten is ready to play less this season.
That's not to say Barten is less competitive or doesn't have a desire to be on the field, but rather he knows the amount he played last season wasn't maximizing his addition to the defense. Barten played 40.3 snaps per game, including 51 or more in four of the last five games of the season.
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The transfer additions Wisconsin made to its defensive line give the depth it lacked the past two years, meaning Barten can play the role he's best suited for -- an early-down run stopper.
The senior has made plays against inside runs throughout training camp, including two tackles at or just behind the line Monday. Barten, a Stratford native described by fellow D-linemen as the group's "culture guy," celebrated his tackle for loss with a quick, water sprinkler-like dance.
Tucker Ashcraft showing good attitude on field
Ashcraft, who's in his third year as a Badgers tight end, had one of his best receiving days of training camp this year.
It started early, as he had a touch on a flat route after going in motion, from which he turned up field with intent to run through contact. He also caught two skinny posts from O'Neil on the last series for the top offense, one of which required extending his arms a good distance in front of his body, but he snared the pass and picked up at least 15 yards.
Ashcraft always has had the fire required to play his position, one that's as physically demanding as any in the Badgers' new scheme, but he's matching that intensity with know-how. His routes are cleaner and faster, and his blocking technique continues to improve year over year.
Wisconsin didn't want to play Ashcraft as much as it did during his first two seasons, but that experience is paying dividends.
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Nyzier Fourqurean's usage a bit puzzling
Wisconsin is in a weird spot with senior cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean. The Badgers need him to be ready to play this season because the room is thin on experience, but the earliest he'll be eligible is the first weekend of October as he continues a legal fight against the NCAA. And yet he took exclusively first-team snaps with the defense for the first time in training camp Monday.
Fourqurean took some of those snaps at the field corner position rather than his usual boundary spot. Senior Ricardo Hallman is still nursing a lower-body injury and didn't participate fully in 11-on-11 work, so perhaps coaches put Fourqurean into that role to give freshman Cairo Skanes a breather after an intense week. The coaches also could be considering how to best test the offense in practice, which would include using one of the best corners on the roster against the top offense.
Fourqurean had a strong pass breakup in a skeleton drill and showed good open-field speed when working at field cornerback. Omillio Agard, the second-year player in the running to take Fourqurean's spot as top boundary corner, had two interceptions.
Catch up on Wisconsin football training camp with BadgerExtra's observations from practice Practice 8
A senior linebacker returns and creates TFLs, a young O-lineman asserting his will and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 8th training camp practice
A senior linebacker returns and creates TFLs, a young O-lineman asserting his will and more that caught the eye at Badgers football training camp in Platteville.
Practice 7
A consistent issue for a top offensive lineman, an emerging option at receiver, the depth of the D-line and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 7th training camp practice
A consistent issue for a top offensive lineman, an emerging option at receiver, the depth of the D-line and more from Badgers football practice in Platteville.
Practice 6
A new cornerback was forced to step up, an underrated skill of QB1 and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 6th training camp practice
A new cornerback was forced to step up, an underrated skill of QB1 and more from Wisconsin football's training camp practice in Platteville.
Practice 5
A breakout day for a running back, a transfer defensive back solidifying his role and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 5th training camp practice
A breakout day for a running back, a transfer defensive back solidifying his role and more from Badgers practice in Platteville.
Practice 4
A session in the red zone, a competition heating up at cornerback and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 4th training camp practice
A session in the red zone, a competition heating up at cornerback and the rest of what caught the eye at the Badgers practice on Saturday.
Practice 3
Here's what to know from a Badgers practice that featured a pair of transfers on defense making plays, the kicking competition starting up and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 3rd training camp practice
Here's what to know from a Badgers practice that featured a pair of transfers on defense making plays, the kicking competition starting up and more.
Practice 2
A quarterback shined despite tough weather conditions, two edge defenders were all over the backfield and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 2nd training camp practice
A quarterback shined despite tough weather conditions, two edge defenders were all over the backfield and more from Badgers training camp.
Practice 1
A senior defender looked in midseason form, the Badgers' depth along the offensive line was tested and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's first training camp practice
A senior defender looked in midseason form, the Badgers' depth along the offensive line was tested and more from a balmy training camp debut in Platteville.
Practice 8
A senior linebacker returns and creates TFLs, a young O-lineman asserting his will and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 8th training camp practice
A senior linebacker returns and creates TFLs, a young O-lineman asserting his will and more that caught the eye at Badgers football training camp in Platteville.
Practice 7
A consistent issue for a top offensive lineman, an emerging option at receiver, the depth of the D-line and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 7th training camp practice
A consistent issue for a top offensive lineman, an emerging option at receiver, the depth of the D-line and more from Badgers football practice in Platteville.
Practice 6
A new cornerback was forced to step up, an underrated skill of QB1 and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 6th training camp practice
A new cornerback was forced to step up, an underrated skill of QB1 and more from Wisconsin football's training camp practice in Platteville.
Practice 5
A breakout day for a running back, a transfer defensive back solidifying his role and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 5th training camp practice
A breakout day for a running back, a transfer defensive back solidifying his role and more from Badgers practice in Platteville.
Practice 4
A session in the red zone, a competition heating up at cornerback and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 4th training camp practice
A session in the red zone, a competition heating up at cornerback and the rest of what caught the eye at the Badgers practice on Saturday.
Practice 3
Here's what to know from a Badgers practice that featured a pair of transfers on defense making plays, the kicking competition starting up and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 3rd training camp practice
Here's what to know from a Badgers practice that featured a pair of transfers on defense making plays, the kicking competition starting up and more.
Practice 2
A quarterback shined despite tough weather conditions, two edge defenders were all over the backfield and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 2nd training camp practice
A quarterback shined despite tough weather conditions, two edge defenders were all over the backfield and more from Badgers training camp.
Practice 1
A senior defender looked in midseason form, the Badgers' depth along the offensive line was tested and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's first training camp practice
A senior defender looked in midseason form, the Badgers' depth along the offensive line was tested and more from a balmy training camp debut in Platteville.
Practice 9
The Badgers' offense stood out, new wrinkles in offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes' scheme were evident, a senior from Green Bay impressed and more.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 9th training camp practice
The Badgers' offense stood out, new wrinkles in offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes' scheme were evident, a senior from Green Bay impressed and more from the team's practice session.
Practice 10
A lesson learned for a young defender, a transfer edge defender causing havoc and more from Wisconsin football's last practice in Platteville this year.
4 observations from Wisconsin football's 10th practice
A lesson learned for a young defender, a transfer edge defender causing havoc and more from Wisconsin football's last practice in Platteville this year.
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