Foot Notes: Cade McNamara Still Sidelined

Iowa Coach Very Optimistic Starting QB Will Be Back for Season Opener

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara talks with offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz at Kids Day practice on Aug. 12, 2023 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Cade McNamara's availability for Iowa's season opener against Utah State on Sept. 2 remained up in the air. The Hawkeyes starting quarterback has not practiced since injuring himself during a scrimmage on Aug. 12. 

"We'll know more at the end of the week, but I'm really optimistic. You know, we'll see," Hawkeye head coach Kirk Ferentz said Wednesday here at the team's practice facility. 

"It's been a recovery process. They've got a procedure for it. Hopefully at the end of the week he can start doing some things. Everything looks like it's on schedule. So, that's encouraging." 

Ferentz isn't worried about McNamara being able to work through some discomfort. The coach also understands that the Michigan transfer has to be well enough to be effective. 

"Mother nature takes part, too. That's always been the case with injuries as tough as a guy might be. Certain guys can do certain things at certain positions. Quarterback needs his legs for sure," Ferentz said. 

McNamara joined the Hawkeyes in January after undergoing lower-body surgery during the fall. Recovery limited him in the spring. He was cleared to practice in full earlier this month.  

"Cade needs work with our team right now. He basically was out last fall. So there's that timing part," Ferentz said.

In McNamara's absence, Wisconsin transfer Deacon Hill has been taking first-team reps. True freshman Marco Lainez is working with the second unit.  

Joe Labas, who started in Iowa's Music City Bowl victory against Kentucky in December, has missed all of camp with an injury. Iowa was hoping he could return to practice by the end of this week.  

"You always look for a positive. All this practice has been helpful for (Hill), and Cade needs some, too," Ferentz said.

More Injury News

The only player ruled out for the opener due to healthy is Jeff Bowie. The sophomore defensive lineman from West Branch was wearing an immobilizer on his arm during the team's open practice on Aug. 12.  

"Jeff is going to miss significant time with an injury," Ferentz said.

Quite a few guys sat out practice on Aug. 12. Some of them have remained out and others have since been sidelined.

"The bad news is we've got guys not practicing, like you'd expect in Week 3 of camp. But the good news is I think everyone realistically has a chance to start working in end of this week, certainly next Monday when we hit the field, you know, thinking about our opponents. Hopefully that's the case," Ferentz said.

While the coach did not name the player, he said he was worried by what looked like an impactful injury last weekend.  

"We avoided one potential landmine on Saturday. It didn't look good. Then we got good news Monday after an MRI. So everybody has got a chance here to move forward," he said. 

O-Line Competition

It's been established that the Hawkeyes must be better on the offensive line this season than they've been the last two years. The competition for playing time has been lively and starters have not yet been named. 

"That's good. That's a positive. We're still moving guys around. It's not because we're unsure, it's because we have a some guys who are competing well. At some point, we have to pull it together, pull it down to seven, eight guys and get it down and get a game-day rotation going," Ferentz said. 

"We haven't settled on anything yet, and we've got a really open mind." 

Mason Richman, Connor Colby, Logan Jones and Beau Stephens return after starting double digit games a year ago. Transfers Rusty Feth and Daijon Parker along with returnees Nick DeJong, Gennings Dunker and Tyler Elsbury all are competing for time. 

We could see rotations at certain spots, Ferentz said. 

Extra Points

Ferentz announced that long-snapper Luke Elkin has been put on scholarship...the coach feels good about his depth at safety but said cornerback is a little thin right now...Iowa's early-morning practices have made the recent heat wave in town more bearable, according to Ferentz...defensive back A.J. Lawson is no longer competing but remains a part of the program, the coach said. The Illinois product is working toward his degree.