Jalen Berger, was dismissed by the Wisconsin Badgers from its football progamme after he missed a game against Illinois over the weekend. The running back had played for led the team in rushing nearly one year ago.

Paul Chryst, the coach of the Wisconsin team, announced the dismissal a day after the Badgers thrashed Illinois 24-0. The management did not provide a reason for the act.

Berger, who is from Newark, New Jersey, rushed for a team-high 301 yards as a freshman last season despite missing three of Wisconsin’s seven games due to injury. But his playing time had been sporadic this year as he slipped down the depth chart, according to reports from Associated Press.

He did not play in a season-opening 16-10 loss to Penn State while Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi and Isaac Guerendo got the bulk of the carries. Chryst said two days later that Berger had a “good approach,” adding, “just because he didn’t play doesn’t mean he’s doing something wrong.”

Berger followed up the Penn State game by rushing 15 times for 62 yards and a touchdown in a 34-7 victory over Eastern Michigan, but he totaled nine carries in Wisconsin’s three games since. He had one carry for 8 yards in a 41-13 loss to No. 14 Notre Dame and had eight rushing attempts for 18 yards in a 38-17 loss to No. 8 Michigan, according to reports from Associated Press.

Wisconsin ran 61 times for 391 yards without Berger in the backfield Saturday, as Mellusi gained 145 yards on 21 carries and freshman Braelon Allen rushed for 131 yards on 18 attempts.

Berger ends his Wisconsin career with 84 carries for 389 yards and three touchdowns, plus four catches for 30 yards. He had 24 carries for 84 yards and one score plus two receptions for 17 yards this season.

He is the third Wisconsin running back to depart since the preseason.

Loyal Crawford was also dismissed from the team in the lead to the game against Penn State as he was accused of arming himself with a knife during a dorm fight, law enforcement officials said.

Antwan Roberts, unlike Crawford, was suspended and later entered the transfer portal less than three weeks after the announcement.

(With AP inputs)