Iowa QB Cade McNamara Helped Off Field After Apparent Leg Injury

The Hawkeyes quarterback attempted just five passes before getting hurt against Michigan State.

In a season in which it’s struggled to generate offense, Iowa lost the piece it could least afford to lose Saturday evening.

Hawkeyes quarterback Cade McNamara exited Iowa's game against Michigan State after sustaining an apparent leg injury. The Reno native had to be helped off the Kinnick Stadium field.

McNamara dropped back to pass from his own two-yard line with 8:11 to play in the first quarter and the Hawkeyes leading 3–0. He was able to get back to the line of scrimmage before his leg buckled and he crumpled to the turf.

The senior was replaced by sophomore Deacon Hill.

#Iowa QB Cade McNamara had to be helped off the field and was attended to for a while after going down on this play.

Didn’t look good. pic.twitter.com/rTRpGuBUgJ

— Sean Bock (@SBock247) September 30, 2023

McNamara exited having completed three of his five passes for 46 yards.

This offseason, McNamara transferred to Iowa from Michigan. With the Wolverines, McNamara threw for 3,181 yards over three years and helped the program win the Big Ten championship in 2021. However, he was replaced by J.J. McCarthy as the starter in 2022 and limited to three games by a knee injury.