Iowa football depth chart: Still no Kaleb Johnson, Jaziun Patterson ahead of Michigan State game

IOWA CITY — Iowa running backs Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson have not returned to the depth chart ahead of the Hawkeyes’ Week 5 game against Michigan State.

Johnson has missed two straight games because of an ankle injury. Patterson, also battling a lower-body injury, missed the second half of Iowa’s win against Western Michigan and the entirety of Iowa’s loss to Penn State.

That leaves Leshon Williams at the top of the depth chart, backed up by true freshmen Kamari Moulton and Terrell Washington.

Williams is coming off a six-carry, 9-yard performance against Penn State, but he was much more effective in Iowa’s nonconference finale. He had 12 carries for 145 yards and two receptions for 27 yards in Iowa’s 41-10 win over Western Michigan.

Moulton and Washington saw their first game action against Western Michigan. Moulton had six carries for 18 yards against Penn State. His 7-yard gain in the fourth quarter was the Hawkeyes’ biggest gain on the ground by a running back against the Nittany Lions.

Iowa did not have any changes on the depth chart since last week. Johnson and Patterson’s injury outlook will likely be clearer after Kirk Ferentz’s weekly Tuesday news conference.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com