Injuries could have a lot to say about Saturday’s outcome
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team is battered, bruised and twice beaten heading into Saturday’s game against 10th-ranked Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium.
How close it’ll be to full strength against the Badgers is a question that Kirk Ferentz couldn’t answer during his weekly press conference on Tuesday because he doesn’t know at this stage.
Senior tight end George Kittle is questionable for the Wisconsin game after suffering a foot sprain in the second quarter of last Saturday’s 49-35 victory at Purdue, while offensive linemen Boone Myers and Cole Croston both are recovering from ankle injuries.
“I think we’ve got a chance with Cole, and Boone, we’ll have to see how the week goes,” Ferentz said. “I think they’ve both got a shot. We’ll see where it is.”
Myers suffered his injury against Purdue, while Croston was injured the previous week against Minnesota and didn’t play against the Boilermakers this past Saturday.
Ferentz was first asked about Kittle’s status during the Big Ten teleconference on Tuesday and Ferentz told reporters that it might be unrealistic to expect the standout tight end to be ready by Saturday’s game.
Ferentz then was asked about Kittle about an hour later during Ferentz’s weekly press conference with the Iowa media. Ferentz was more optimistic after being reminded about what he said on the Big Ten teleconference.
“I’ll tone that down a little bit,” Ferentz said. “I don’t want to be Dr. Doom here. I think he’s got a chance. There was concerned on Saturday there might be a fracture. That was word given to me during the game.”
An x-ray revealed no fracture, and that was later confirmed by an MRI.
“The specialists have looked at it and said everything is good, so it depends on what he can do, how he can progress in the next couple days’ time, and we’re not going to rule him out,” Ferentz said. “But it’s probably a longshot.
“Right now we’ve got to prepare – anytime a guy gets hurt, you’ve got to prepare like he’s not going to be there. But if he can play, we’ll play him. We’ve done that before. That’s not unheard of, if he can play. He’s got to be able to play effectively.”
Kittle has played effectively throughout the season. He is ranked third on the team in receiving with 17 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns, and also excels as a blocker.
Kittle was injured late in the second quarter against Purdue while trying to reach for end zone after catching a pass from quarterback C.J. Beathard. Kittle limped off the field and didn’t return to the game.
Junior walk-on Peter Pekar has been listed as the No. 2 tight end for the entire season, but has been used almost exclusively as a blocker and still doesn’t have a career reception.
“Whenever my number is called, I’m ready for it,” Pekar said Tuesday.
A walk-on from Wisconsin, Pekar embraces whatever role the coaches ask him to play.
“I just do whatever the coaches ask,” said Pekar, who is the son of former Iowa defensive lineman Jim Pekar. “Each week, the game plan is different. I just do whatever is going to help the team.
“Obviously, George is a huge pass threat. So I just do what I can to help the team.”
True freshman Noah Fant has seen his role increase in the past few games as the third tight end. The Omaha, Neb., native caught his first touchdown pass last Saturday against Purdue.
Iowa already is without senior receiver Matt VandeBerg, who is out indefinitely with a broken foot after playing in the first four games.
Fellow senior Riley McCarron has helped to fill VandeBerg’s void and now leads Iowa with 24 catches for 289 yards and three touchdowns.
“George and Matt are great players on our offense and do a good job,” Beathard said. “Unfortunately, George got hurt early in the game last week, and honestly, I don’t even know what his situation is right now.
“But hopefully, he’ll be out there this week. That would be great. But we’ve got other guys behind him that are ready to go just like Riley was ready to go when Matt went down.”