The Walk Through — 11 a.m. ESPN

Iowa TE George Kittle ended last week in sweats and in an immobilizer boot. This was in the second half of Purdue. It didn't look good for today's game against the Badgers.

Kickoff is 11 a.m. and it's on ESPN.

Right now, it's about 9:15 and Kittle is on the field going through warm-up tosses with the quarterbacks. He had an ankle injury and Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said this week that he was a 'longshot.'

This isn't the final answer, but right now, Kittle is on the field doing football things. He's only done some minor cutting and jogging, but that's all they ever do at this period of warmup.

So, stage 1 looks positive for the Hawkeyes to get back their top TE and one of their better offensive weapons and one of their better blockers.

— We're probably 45 minutes from seeing who starts on the O-line. I think T Cole Croston will play. He practiced this week after missing the Purdue game with an ankle injury, one he fought through to play at Minnesota.

Croston is one tackle, Ike Boettger is two. So, Iowa at least will have two. We don't know yet about T Boone Myers. I would put him at doubtful. Maybe we'll see something definite soon.

— Keep an eye open for Wisconsin injuries. NG Olive Sagapolu has been listed as out with an arm injury. He's 350 pounds. His backup might be 275-pound freshman Garrett Rand. The Badgers also are kind of beaten up in the O-line.

— Sagapolu didn't make the trip. He is definitely out.

— Iowa radio announces that Myers is out, but Kittle and Croston will play. Two out of three isn't bad.

— It looks like freshman Garrett Rand could be Sagapolu's replacement. He is just 6-2, 274 compared to Sagapolu's 6-2, 350. But Rand also is a 4-star and former US Army All-American.

— Field goals could be a thing today.

This is week 8 of the season and the Hawkeyes' longest field goal this season is 28 yards. Freshman Keith Duncan is 4 of 4 this season with all of his field goals coming from 28 yards and in. Sophomore Miguel Recinos tried a 50-yarder at Minnesota that fell short. It's late in the season for this to be an open-ended question, especially for a team that has had four of its seven games decided by a TD or less.

Today, Duncan tried FGs from 38 and 43 into the wind. So, if Iowa gets inside the 20 and stalls, I think he gets the call.

With Rafael Gaglianone out for the season (back injury), senior kicker Andrew Endicott is now 4-for-4 in his career after going three field goals last week against Ohio State. He drilled a career-long 46-yarder in the first quarter and then added kicks of 32 and 22 yards in the second.

— Iowa has 39 recruits here today.

Two of the bigger names on that list are Iowa City West wide receiver Oliver Martin and Peoria, Ill., defensive tackle Kendrick Green.

Martin is Rivals top-rated recruit in Iowa for the Class of 2017. Martin may be close to making his college choice and recently made an official visit to Michigan.

Last week, Iowa extended an offer to Green. The 6-4, 270 pounder has visited Iowa earlier this season and it could come down to Iowa and Minnesota to land him.

— It's pretty nice here today, but there is a wind. No a mighty wind, but a breeze. They'll announce specfics before kickoff.

— KF on the radio: Croston is in. Kittle is in. Come along a little bit. Myers is out and won't be dressed.

— KF: Keegan Render will stay in. Boettger to left tackle and Croston to right.

Boettger hasn't played left tackle since Brandon Scherff went out in the 2014 opener against I think it was Miami (Ohio) with a knee injury. IIRC, that was five plays.

So, this is uncharted territory.

— One thing to keep in mind, Kittle is playing, but he's not 100 percent. This is a 'see how it goes' mode.

— UW is getting back OLB Vince Biegel this week. He's missed the last two weeks with a foot injury.

— The No. 2 OL is Ryan Ward, Steve Ferentz, Lucas LeGrand, Levi Paulsen and Dalton Ferguson.

No. 2 DL is DEs Anthnoy Nelson and Sam Brincks and DTs Cedric Lattimore and Garrett Jansen.

— FWIW, Aaron Mends did line up as the No. 2 WLB. There was some talk of that this week. And all season, really.

Here's some spoken heiroglyphics from KF on that from Tuesday:

'That's how we ended up Saturday. But it's clearly cloudy right now. Maybe we'll get some things cleared up next week during the bye week. Hopefully we can get a little clarity there because it is what it is.'

I don't know, either.

After Bo Bower at the spot, sophomore Jack Hockaday is listed as the backup.

I think that does it for this portion of today's show.

Enjoy the spectacle!

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com