Cade McNamara remains ‘proud member’ of Iowa football, ‘doing everything in my power’ to return to field

WASHINGTON — Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara cleared up any confusion about his status, saying on social media he remains a “proud member of this football team” and has been “doing everything in my power to get back on the field.”

The ex-Michigan quarterback has been out since suffering a concussion in Iowa’s Oct. 26 win over Northwestern. He was listed as out for Iowa’s game against Wisconsin on Nov. 2, and he did not travel with the team for Iowa’s game at UCLA on Nov. 9.

“I have been working with the University of Iowa doctors and trainers, a concussion specialist focused on vision training, as well as engaging in hyperbaric treatments as frequent as possible,” McNamara said on Friday.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said in his Tuesday news conference that McNamara “has been cleared to play,” which McNamara partially refuted. (Ferentz also listed McNamara on the team’s weekly depth chart, which was released on Monday.)

“I have NOT been cleared to play yet,” McNamara said in the statement posted to his Instagram and X accounts. “I was cleared to participate in practice this past Saturday, but had an adverse reaction, which is common for someone coming out of protocol.”

A team spokesman has since clarified that Ferentz “misstated that Cade had been cleared to play” and said he had simply been “cleared to practice.”

When asked directly if McNamara suffered a setback since practicing Sunday, Ferentz said on Tuesday that McNamara was “still processing back.”

McNamara said he has “not physically participated” in practice after Sunday and is “unable to travel” to Maryland.

Iowa’s injuries at quarterback have quickly added up. Brendan Sullivan is out with an ankle injury, and Marco Lainez recently began work again after a hand injury that required surgery.

As a result, the Hawkeyes are expected to start walk-on and Colorado State transfer Jackson Stratton at the position Saturday against Maryland. Stratton went 3-of-6 with 28 passing yards and 14 rushing yards when replacing Sullivan in the second half of Iowa’s loss to UCLA.

McNamara said he has “every intention to play” against Nebraska next week in the Hawkeyes’ nonconference finale.

“I am confident that my teammates will return from Maryland with a win,” McNamara said.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

Sign up for our curated Iowa Hawkeyes athletics newsletter at thegazette.com/hawks.