Report: Wisconsin inside linebacker out for remainder of spring practice with leg injury
Report: Wisconsin inside linebacker out for remainder of spring practice with leg injury
#Badgers LB Thomas Heiberger has been shut down for the spring after injuring his left leg during practice Thursday. Went down during a punt drill.
Tough break for Heiberger. Mised most of last season after a training camp leg injury and is moving from OLB to ILB this spring. — Colten Bartholomew (@CBartWSJ) April 5, 2025
Wisconsin redshirt freshman linebacker Thomas Heiberger will miss the remainder of the spring practice period with a leg injury, according to BadgerExtra's Colten Bartholomew.
The former four-star recruit was in the news entering spring as he made a notable switch from outside to inside linebacker. While a path to playing time may still exist, this news halts his momentum toward a position on the opening two-deep.
Heiberger joined the Badgers as a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, ranked as the No. 463 overall player in the country, the No. 40 linebacker and the class' top player from South Dakota. He was an early standout from fall camp last season, though suffered a knee injury during the period and went on to miss most of the 2024 season. He eventually returned to the field for the season's final four games, during which appeared solely on special teams.
Wisconsin's outside linebacker room received a major boost this offseason with the additions of transfers Mason Reiger and Tyreese Fearbry. The two join a crowded group, currently led by returning seniors Darryl Peterson and Aaron Witt, plus former North Carolina transfer Sebastian Cheeks.
That dynamic likely prompted Heiberger's move to inside linebacker, where Wisconsin has major questions next to returning starter Christian Alliegro. Former USC transfer Tackett Curtis projects to start, with Tyler Jansey and Western Carolina transfer Antarron Turner as primary backups.
With health, Heiberger shouldn't have much trouble cracking that two-deep rotation. However, health is becoming a key question for the former top recruit, who has now been sidelined for most of his time with the program.
Wisconsin will hope to get Heiberger back on the field for training camp and its final 2025 season preparation. The team needs a breakout year defensively after a program-worst 2024 campaign.
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