Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara is ‘really limited’ in spring practices as he recovers from knee injury

IOWA CITY — Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara is “really limited” in spring practices as he continues to recover from last year’s knee injury, Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday in a news conference.

“He can throw the football standing, but he can’t be really moving back, moving around or dropping, that type of deal,” Ferentz said.

Iowa posted a video on its social media platforms McNamara throwing with a brace on his left knee on the first day of spring practices.

“I have a harness on him because he’s always anxious to do a little bit more than what he probably should,” Ferentz said. “What we don’t want to do is go backward.”

Ferentz hopes that McNamara will be back to “full speed” in June and be able to “do everything and then have a couple months to get used to operating and get comfortable and confident again.”

“I'm eager to see him when he can move and be mobile and adjust and do some things, but mentally he's right there in the huddle with the guys,” Ferentz said. “He's relaying calls to his teammates that aren’t in the huddle, that type of thing. He’s 100 percent involved in it and engrossed in it.”

The Michigan transfer completed 51.1 percent of his passes while throwing four touchdowns and three interceptions for the Hawkeyes last season before suffering the season-ending injury to his left knee. That’s in addition to his preseason quad injury, which he suffered during the Kids’ Day open practice.

McNamara suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee in 2022, which also required surgery.

He has not had a fully healthy season since 2021. That was when he led Michigan to the College Football Playoff while completing 64.2 percent of his passes.

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