Scherff out, Ott in (probably)

IOWA CITY — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz went through the injury list right off the top of Tuesday's news conference. He mentioned linebacker Josey Jewell has a chance to be back this week.

And then he stopped. Everyone in the room knew there was more to come, but this is a game week. The Hawkeyes (2-0) face rival Iowa State (0-2) on Saturday. So, there's that and then there's the fact that Ferentz just doesn't go into detail on player injuries.

Game week or not, he'd rather chew hornets.

So, Ferentz didn't reveal any information nor did he confirm the Tuesday morning surgery on offensive tackle Brandon Scherff's knee (Scherff did have surgery). Ferentz did, however, talk about defensive end Drew Ott, who went to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics after a Monday morning scooter accident in Iowa City.

Ott, who was named Big Ten defensive player of the week after his effort against Ball State, avoided serious injury and is expected to play against Iowa State.

'Scary moment,' Ferentz said. 'We've had several players since I've been here involved in those. Fortunately, he's doing well. . . . Couple of stitches. He's very fortunate.'

Fellow defensive end Nate Meier is a close friend of Ott's. He said the junior came out of the accident OK.

'It scared me at first,' Meier said. 'He's fine, though.'

OK, back to Scherff on a Tuesday that was probably a little more eventual than you wanted.

Scherff had his knee scoped Tuesday morning to repair meniscus damage and is out at least this week. He told KCRG-TV9 that he would like to be back for the game at Pittsburgh on Sept. 20 and feels he can make it back for when the Big Ten season starts Sept. 27 at Purdue.

'We're going to take it day-by-day,' Ferentz said after about the sixth time he was asked.

Scherff was seen on crutches with a bandage on his right knee at the Iowa football complex Tuesday afternoon.

'We don't know that,' Ferentz said when asked if Scherff would play against the Cyclones (this question was approached from several different angles). 'He's day-to-day right now. He was injured Saturday, and we have a couple guys that are stiff and sore right now. We'll see how it goes.'

The players were more matter-of-fact that Scherff will be out of the lineup Saturday. Redshirt freshman Ike Boettger (6-6, 267) replaced Scherff for two series and one play after Scherff left the Ball State game midway through the second quarter.

'As soon as we knew that Brandon was going to be out and Ike was the man going in, we just told him 'You're ready for this,'' offensive tackle Andrew Donnal said. 'We all have complete confidence in him.'

And quarterback Jake Rudock, 'The 'next man in' motto that coach Ferentz always talks about,' Rudock said. 'I'm sure Ike will do a great job. It's one of those things that happen during a season. The guys will fill the void.'

Scherff, a 6-5, 323-pound senior and preseason all-American, suffered the injury to his right knee in the second quarter of the Hawkeyes' 17-13 victory over Ball State. Scherff tried to chase down BSU defensive tackle Blake Dueitt after he recovered a fumble and returned it 35 yards for a TD.

Scherff tried to make a tackle at the goal line and came out of the pile seemingly OK. He took a few steps and fell to the turf. Iowa trainers immediately examined his right knee.

In the postgame, Scherff said the knee was 'locked up,' which would point to meniscus damage.

'I stood up and my knee locked up,' Scherff said. 'I didn't know what happened. I didn't want to stress anything, so I sat back down. I'm all right, it's good.'

Here's your primer on Boettger: During his junior season at Cedar Falls High School in 2011, he played quarterback for the Tigers, completing 58 of 95 for 750 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception. Iowa offered him as a tight end after an impressive camp performance going into his senior year, so Boettger moved to tight end and defensive end as a senior. He made the switch to offensive line at Iowa early last season.

'I came in kind of heavy as a tight end, but, honestly, no,' said Boettger when asked if he saw himself as an O-lineman when he came to Iowa. 'As time went on, they asked me and I thought what a great opportunity.'

So, it appears Boettger will be the starter against the Cyclones. In 2009, all-Big Ten offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga went down for a few weeks with a thyroid problem. A redshirt freshman named Riley Reiff made his first start in Ames.

Ferentz said Boettger played well against Ball State. No, he wouldn't confirm that Boettger would replace Scherff in the lineup.

'It's just part of football,' Ferentz said. 'We're not going to surrender if one guy goes down or if five go down.'

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