Wisconsin star linebacker's recent success has come despite turf toe injury

MADISON – Mason Posa appeared to be in his usual playmaking form as the Wisconsin linebacker (and 2025 freshman All-American) dropped back into coverage against Eastern Michigan and hauled in the Badgers’ first interception of 2026.

In reality, 100% might have been an overstatement considering that Posa has been playing through a turf toe injury.

“I definitely thought I felt a lot slower on that pick for sure, but it’s getting better,” Posa said shortly after the Badgers’ 54-10 win.

Posa’s lingering injury makes what he did in Week 3 – albeit against lesser competition – all the more impressive. It also gives the Wisconsin football staff something to think about, even with Posa himself saying he’ll be “100% for Penn State.”

“Some of those guys with turf toe – I don’t know that it’s ever going to go away,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “It's something that you have to be able to manage, but you got to be able to be at your best on Saturday. As a younger guy like him, figuring out what that looks like on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday I think is what’s real important.”

Posa thought going into Week 3 that his injury was improving daily.

“I thought Thursday I had a really good practice,” Posa said after the game. “I was moving around. But Friday I was a little worried because I kind of felt pretty sore.”

It also seemed to be somewhat of a concern heading into the Eastern Michigan game – albeit not enough of a concern to keep him from starting in the nonconference finale.

“I definitely felt, before the game, a little worried about it,” Posa said. “Can’t really put a whole bunch of weight on my front foot. But as soon as kickoff started and the adrenaline [was] pumping, I was like, ‘What toe? What turf toe? There’s nothing wrong with me.’ … I think I felt good.”

Fickell kept playing many of his offensive starters in the fourth quarter of the Eastern Michigan game despite the lopsided score. (Quarterback Colton Joseph and offensive linemen Kevin Heywood, Colin Cubberly and Austin Kawecki played all 64 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.)

But Fickell was more judicious with resting his defensive starters and Posa in particular.

Posa took only 29 of the team’s 69 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. That was 10 fewer snaps than fellow starting linebacker Cooper Catalano and statistically made for Posa’s lightest workload in a game since he moved into a starting role last October.

Game circumstances might not give Fickell that flexibility as the Badgers approach Big Ten play, starting with a trip to No. 14 Penn State. Fickell said in his weekly news conference that there is “no tougher place to play than Happy Valley” in the Big Ten.

That’s where Posa’s progress – evidently enough so far to be catching the team’s first interception – is so important for the Badgers.

“So far, I think each week he’s felt better,” Fickell said. “I mean, it’s only been three. But each Monday or Tuesday, he’s felt a little bit better since he’s had it. … He’s getting more comfortable.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin star linebacker's recent success has come despite turf toe injury