Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson has ‘realistic’ chance of playing against Purdue

IOWA CITY — Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson could potentially play Saturday in the Hawkeyes’ game against Purdue, head coach Kirk Ferentz signaled Wednesday evening during his weekly radio show.

“I think he's going to give it a go,” Ferentz said. “We'll see, but it's realistic to think that he might be able to play.”

Johnson, who has missed Iowa’s last three games with an ankle injury, practiced this week. The Hamilton, Ohio, native was the team’s top running back as a true freshman in 2022, averaging 5.2 yards per carry with six touchdowns.

“It’d be great to get Kaleb back,” Ferentz said. “And anybody else that can join us, that’d be a great thing.”

Fellow running back Jaziun Patterson, who has missed Iowa’s last two games, is “probably a week or two away still” from returning, Ferentz said.

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