The Quickest Slant

-- Outside linebacker Tyler Nielsen is likely out for the season with a broken vertebrae in his neck. He left the Michigan State game before halftime and watched from the bench in gym clothes during the second half.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz wouldn't specify what sort of neck injury, saying that Nielsen, a junior from Humboldt, would miss "weeks." Sources have confirmed that Nielsen suffered a broken vertebrae, putting a return this season in doubt.

"It's a tough loss for us," Ferentz said. "First and foremost, it's tough on Tyler. As an individual he wants to play out there, it means an awful lot to him. He's going to be out for a while. We have to try to get through that. It's tough. We'll just see what happens here."

Nielsen first suffered the injury in a hit on Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson.

-- All of Iowa's starting linebackers from the beginning of the season have now suffered serious injury.

Senior middle linebacker Jeff Tarpinian (neck/shoulder stinger) missed three games before returning to the lineup on passing downs last week. Senior weakside linebacker Jeremiha Hunter (knee) missed last week after suffering a knee injury in the second half against Wisconsin.

-- O-linemen Julian Vandervelde (hip) and Adam Gettis (ankle) spoke to the media Tuesday. Barring a setback in practice today, they should be healthy for Saturday's game at Indiana.

Ferentz said Hunter has a realistic shot for Tuesday's practice and they'll see how he responds thereafter. Tarpinian's duties also could expand this week, pending his health.

Tarpinian could be replace Nielsen at outside linebacker, a position he's played during his five years at Iowa.

A lot of trauma for one position.

Saturday's starters could be true freshman James Morris in the middle; senior Troy Johnson on the weakside and fifth-year senior walk-on Ross Petersen on the outside. Petersen replaced Nielsen last week.

-- Defensive coordinator Norm Parker won't make the trip to Indiana. Ferentz said he's five to eight days from returning to Iowa City from rehabilitation at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

"Norm is gaining ground," Ferentz said. "Great having him in the stadium. He will not travel this week. I think we're probably anywhere from like five to eight days, based on what I know, before he comes home. We're gaining ground here. It was great having him there. He was certainly enthused. I think we're getting real close to him coming back home. The next step will be getting him in the office a couple hours a day, that type of thing. But he won't be here Saturday."

Ferentz said later that Parker's future is up to Parker. To be around the team and involved in coaching and gameplanning, he has to be one of the nine coaches on the staff, according to NCAA rules.