• Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards’ status is “day-to-day” ahead of the upcoming game against his former team, Maryland.

• Coach Luke Fickell noted Maryland’s offense plays to the strengths of freshman quarterback Malik Washington.

• UW inside linebacker Christian Alliegro has impressed with his pass-rushing ability, leading the team in sacks.

MADISON – Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards appeared to take a significant step toward returning to action when he took part in warmups Sept. 13 at Alabama.

But we’ll have to wait to see if the Badgers signal caller will be back in the lineup when UW faces Maryland in the Big Ten opener Sept. 20 at Camp Randall Stadium.

During his weekly news conference Sept. 15 at the McClain Center practice facility, UW coach Luke Fickell said Edwards’ status is “day-to-day”

“It’s a Monday, which is a good thing,” Fickell said.

A return Saturday would be ideal timing for Edwards as he spent the past three seasons at Maryland.

Last season he started 11 games for the Terrapins and ranked second in the Big Ten with an average of 261.9 passing yards per game.

“It’s just (like) we’ve said it for a while, at some point in time we’re going to have to save Billy from Billy, but we’ve also got to make some decisions as we move along during this week,” Fickell said. “Right now, we wouldn’t know.”

Here is what else we learned from Fickell’s weekly press conference.

Maryland plays to strentgths of freshman QB Malik Washington

The Terrapins enter the Big Ten season with a 3-0 record and ranked 14^th in the conference in total offense (382.7 yards per game), 12^th in scoring (34.3 ppg) and seventh in passing yards (266 ypg).

Running the offense is Malik Washington, an in-state product who was a four-star recruit.

He is completing 62% of his passes, ranks third in the conference with 773 yards and sixth with 257.7 yards per game.

“I think they’re in a really good place,” Fickell said.

“I think they’ve done some really good things, but you do see as a younger guy, they’re playing to his strengths.

“They’ve got some skilled athletes. They get the ball out of his hand.

He throws a really good (deep ball), and I think they’ve taken advantage of a lot of that in the first three games.”

Christian Alliegro makes play after play

Christian Alliegro is second on the Badgers with 15 tackles and leads the team with four tackles for a loss and two sacks.

The 6-foot-4, 247-pound inside linebacker showed his nose for the ball last season when he ranked second on the team in tackles despite having significantly fewer snaps.

This year he is also proving to be an effective pass rusher.

“Size and speed give him those opportunities,” Fickell said. “I just think that you’re seeing an aggressive guy.

We’re trying to find ways and put him in some positions and some situations where he can be a rush guy.

“He’s shown to be a decent edge rush guy, and even a better up the middle rush guy.”

Freshman center Ryan Cory makes most of 10 snaps

Ryan Cory had the challenge of climbing from third string at the start of the game to being the guy for at center for UW after Jake Renfo missed a couple of series due to an ankle injury in the second quarter.

“To be honest he did a good job,” Fickell said.  “He played aggressive. He played fast.”