PLATTEVILLE — University of Wisconsin inside linebacker Maema Njongmeta won’t miss much time despite having surgery on his right hand.
Coach Luke Fickell told reporters late Monday night Njongmeta had a “quick, little surgery procedure” but is expected to be able to practice when the team returns to Madison. The team’s first practice back on campus is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday.
He wore a sling on his right arm and the fifth-year senior did not participate in the team’s practice Monday night at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. Njongmeta had practiced Saturday and Sunday with heavy club wrapping on his right hand and extra wrapping around his left thumb.
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Njongmeta has been one of the team’s more versatile inside linebackers, and was UW’s leading tackler last season with 95. Njongmeta became a starter in 2022 and tallied 11½ tackles for loss, 3½ sacks and five quarterback hits. He was expected to be one of the team’s starters again this year.
Jake Chaney and Jordan Turner took the first-team reps at inside linebacker with Njongmeta on the sideline.
A few other injury notes:
- Fickell also said that redshirt freshman nose tackle Curt Neal would be out for a few weeks, but did not specify his injury. He’s been limited to working with trainers on the sideline since the third day of camp.
- Tailback Chez Mellusi, who took a helmet-to-helmet hit from safety Kamo’i Latu on Saturday, missed his second consecutive practice. A UW spokesperson said Monday that Mellusi didn’t have a specific injury, but the team was “being smart with him.”
- Tight end Cam Large is on the roster, but has not participated during practices. He’s been with his position group wearing street clothes, and Fickell said he’s rehabbing an injury. “Will he make (it back to the field), I don’t know,” Fickell said. “If he doesn’t come back and play football and he wants to coach, I think we would hire him tomorrow. That’s just the way I feel. I’ve known him for eight months, and he is incredibly passionate about what he’s doing and just finding a way to make his team better.”