Kirk Ferentz details injury updates to Iowa football offensive line, defense ahead of Michigan State

IOWA CITY — Iowa football’s injured list started with a few names at the beginning of the season, but most of the those players returned to the field by the midpoint of the year. Heading into last week, the Hawkeyes were almost entirely healthy.

With two regular-season matchups to go, the list has grown a bit lengthy again.

The Hawkeyes had a handful of players exit their game against USC early, including three starting offensive linemen. All three — Beau Stephens, Gennings Dunker and Kade Pieper — didn’t return against the Trojans with respective injuries.

Iowa’s depth chart against Michigan State this week listed the three starters in their normal position, but head coach Kirk Ferentz said there won’t be a clear answer to their status until later this week.

“Nobody's really ruled out 100-percent yet for this week,” Ferentz said Tuesday. “We got a handful of guys right now that, we'll see how the week goes, and hopefully they can progress so we're not too, too depleted there. But it was a physical game, tough game, from that regard.”

Stephens left the game after a helmet-to-helmet collision against the Trojans, while both Dunker and Pieper had lower-body injuries, according to Ferentz.

The Hawkeyes’ offensive line has been one of the most successful in the country this year, filled with three seniors and two sophomores. Iowa has allowed 13 sacks this season — tied for 25th in FBS football.

“First thing I would say is it doesn't help the cause Saturday, obviously,” Ferentz said. “It's one of our strengths right now.”

Ferentz also added that he’s “cautiously optimistic” that those three, along with some other injured players, can face the Spartans on Saturday. If that’s not possible for the offensive line? Next-man-up mentality reigns on.

“We're not unique,” he said. “Every team in the country is going through this this time of year.”

Should the Hawkeyes be without one of their starters, sophomore left guard Leighton Jones is one option to sub in. Jones made an appearance against the Trojans, and has been second on the depth chart to Stephens all season.

“I'm still happy for those the guys that came in, they did a great job,” quarterback Mark Gronowski said after the 26-21 loss Saturday. “They've got a lot of reps under them, just in practice in general. And obviously it always hurts to lose guys like Dunker, Beau Stevens, Kade Pieper, but I'm proud of the way that those other guys stepped up, and we're ready for the challenge.”

Another player with a question mark is cornerback TJ Hall, who was injured at the start of the fourth quarter. He was also listed on this week’s depth chart, after having his arm in a sling following a one-on-one showdown in the end zone that was flagged for defensive pass interference.

Ferentz, however, said Hall’s a part of that same group of “cautiously optimistic” players for their chances to play Saturday.

“Everybody gets a sling or a boot if you have any kind of injury,” Ferentz said. “I'm not being facetious or not judgmental at all. But that's kind of like standard protocol. So it really doesn't indicate the severity, good or bad.”

Ferentz did say Hall was one he’s “not overly optimistic, out of all the guys.” Deshaun Lee is expected to fill the role should Hall be unavailable. This comes after linebacker Jaden Harrell had played the most since his injury against Indiana, where he’s slowly made his return since then.

Hall, Dunker and Stephens are all expected to be recognized during the Hawkeyes’ Senior Day festivities in a pregame ceremony before facing the Spartans. Iowa’s passing defense is sixth in FBS football, allowing just 157.4 passing yards per game.

“All these injuries,” Ferentz said, “You feel good about the guys going in, but you start getting stretched thin a little bit.”

The Hawkeyes have made it through games with less-than-ideal depth, and they may have to once again against a Michigan State program searching for its first conference win of the year.

“We're being very careful with what we do daily right now, and probably know more certainly Thursday or Friday,” Ferentz said. “But right now, I'm optimistic.”

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