Could Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz play against Michigan?

The COVID-19 outbreak within the football program of the Wisconsin Badgers cost the team scheduled games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Purdue Boilermakers. 

Wisconsin may, however, have its most important offensive player on the field for Saturday's showdown with the Michigan Wolverines. 

As Adam Rittenberg noted for ESPN, Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz remains in the coronavirus protocol as of Wednesday afternoon but could be available to play at Michigan if he's cleared by the team's sports medicine staff.

"The big question mark is going to be if we can get Graham to the point where he's practicing, will he have enough in that you feel confident with him? That's still in the air," Badgers offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph told reporters. "I wish I could be more definitive for you guys. ... We've just got to keep working through the week and see where we're at, listen to our training staff."

Backup quarterback Chase Wolf also tested positive for the virus, and his status for the weekend is unknown. Danny Vanden Boom, who hasn't recorded an official snap since the 2018 season when he completed his only pass, will start versus Michigan if neither Mertz nor Wolf is cleared. 

Mertz enjoyed a historic start to the season during the blowout win over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Oct. 23, as he set a Badgers record for single-game completion percentage (95.2%) and matched a school mark for touchdown passes in a contest with five.