Iowa tight end Addison Ostrenga expected to miss ‘several weeks’ with injury

IOWA CITY — Iowa tight end Addison Ostrenga is expected to miss “several weeks” with his injury from the Ohio State game earlier this month, head coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday in his weekly news conference.

Left guard Beau Stephens also will “definitely” miss Iowa’s upcoming game against Michigan State, Ferentz said, although “maybe it’s not as bad as we thought earlier in the week.”

“He was out there today walking around, but got a ways to go,” Ferentz said of Stephens.

That essentially leaves the Hawkeyes without two offensive starters for its game at Michigan State. Tyler Elsbury is the first-team left guard on the depth chart in Stephens’ absence, and Zach Ortwerth is expected to step up again as Iowa’s second tight end in Ostrenga’s absence.

Ostrenga has been a key part of Iowa’s receiving corps, catching 11 passes for 63 yards and one touchdown through the Hawkeyes’ first five games. He was seen on the sidelines during the Washington game with his right arm in a sling.

On the bright side for the Hawkeyes, first-team fullback Hayden Large appears to be able to play “if he can make it through the week,” Ferentz said. Large has taken 71 offensive snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus, and has three receptions for 18 yards.

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