Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker provides injury update on Koen Entringer, Xavier Nwankpa

IOWA CITY — Iowa’s secondary has some good news to report on the injury front.

Koen Entringer has been practicing, and Xavier Nwankpa “should be back in the next couple days,” defensive coordinator Phil Parker told reporters on Tuesday.

Parker said Entringer has been “doing a good job.” The Iowa coaches are “limiting some of his reps,” though, so they “don’t overload him.”

Nwankpa was the first-team strong safety on the preseason depth chart, and Entringer was the second-team strong safety. Nwankpa has started 14 of Iowa’s last 15 games, dating back to the 2022 Music City Bowl.

“Xavier looks like he’s back at it — he should be,” Parker said. “I thought he was going to practice here today a little bit, but I think he should be back in the next couple days.”

Entringer and Nwankpa were among the players who did not participate in the Hawkeyes’ Aug. 10 open practice. Parker’s positive injury update on Tuesday came 11 days before Iowa’s Aug. 31 season opener against Illinois State.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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