Iowa junior linebacker Jestin Jacobs will have season-ending surgery
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team will be without a key player on defense for the rest of the season.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz announced at his weekly press conference on Tuesday that junior linebacker Jestin Jacobs will have season-ending surgery.
“Unfortunately, we did get bad news on Jestin Jacobs,” Kirk Ferentz said. “It didn’t sound good the other night, and that’s been confirmed. He’s going to have to have surgery and he will miss the rest of the season. That’s obviously a tough break.
“Tough for the team, but most importantly just tough on the individual, and that’s the worst part about injuries.”
Kirk Ferentz also said Tuesday that sophomore receiver Keagan Johnson will not play in Saturday’s game against No. 4 Michigan at Kinnick Stadium.
Johnson has only played in one game so far this season due to what has been described as a soft tissue injury.
He finished second on the team last season with 352 receiving yards on just 18 catches.
“Keagan right now will not be going this week, so we’ll take that a day at a time, week at a time, and keep moving forward there,” Kirk Ferentz said.
Senior cornerback Terry Roberts, who started the first three games, didn’t play in last Saturday’s 27-10 victory at Rutgers after reportedly being injured in practice on the Friday before the game.
Kirk Ferentz was uncertain when asked if Roberts would play against Michigan on Saturday.
“We’ll see. We’re hoping so,” Kirk Ferentz said.

As for the 6-foot-4, 238-pound Jacobs, he was expected to be part of a veteran trio at linebacker with seniors Jack Campbell and Seth Benson.
Jacobs finished with 53 tackles, two quarterback hurries and two pass break-ups last season. The Ohio native also forced a fumble against Iowa State last season that Campbell returned for a touchdown.
However, Jacobs has only appeared in two games this season due to the injury.
Senior Logan Klemp has replaced Jacobs in the lineup when Iowa uses three linebackers.
“He’s been a really good special teams player and a leader, and he’s doing a fine job,” Kirk Ferentz said of Klemp.
Kirk Ferentz also said Tuesday that sophomore defensive back Brenden Deasfernandes will not be available for the Michigan game due to an apparent injury that has kept him out all season.
“We’re getting a little thin, but that’s the world we live in,” Kirk Ferentz said.
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