MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi, the team’s leading rusher, is stepping away from the team as he continues to rehab from injuries in an effort to be fully healthy, according to a statement from the program.
“We want to let people know that Chez is going to be stepping away from the team for now and working to get his body healthy,” the statement read. “He’s endured many injuries and has worked
A team spokesperson said the Badgers aren’t ruling him out for the entire season.
Mellusi, who transferred to Wisconsin from Clemson before the 2021 season, has played in 26 career games for the Badgers but battled injuries every season. From 2021 to ’23, he missed 17 games. Mellusi tore the ACL in his left knee against Rutgers in 2021 and missed the last four games. He was sidelined for a stretch in 2022 with a broken right wrist sustained against Northwestern.
He suffered another season-ending injury in 2023 in Week 4 against Purdue when he fractured his left fibula and dislocated his ankle, which he said in the spring required “a full ankle reconstruction.”
Mellusi opted to use his sixth year of eligibility to return this season and was ahead of schedule as a full participant
during spring practices. He leads the Badgers with 56 rushes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Mellusi was averaging 4.1 yards per carry, down from 6 yards per carry in four games last season. During his Wisconsin career, he has rushed for 1,827 yards and 14 touchdowns.
