Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara is in the concussion protocol and will not play on Saturday against Wisconsin, as announced by coach Kirk Ferentz on Tuesday.
Brendan Sullivan, who stepped in for McNamara during the second half against Northwestern last week, will start in his place.
It’s unclear when McNamara got hurt. Ferentz mentioned that McNamara took a hard hit in the second quarter and also received a roughing-the-passer penalty late in the first quarter.
Ferentz expressed hope that McNamara would be ready for the game on November 8 at UCLA.
McNamara has started the first eight games for the Hawkeyes (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten). He transferred from Michigan two years ago and missed a large part of the 2023 fall camp due to a leg injury.
His season ended in the fifth game when he tore the ACL in his left knee. In 2022, a knee injury also ended his season with Michigan after just three games.
“Feel badly for him because it’s been a tough stretch really for about two and a half years,” Ferentz said. “I’ve said it before and you guys have heard me say it a million times, the worst thing about coaching is dealing with injuries.
It’s something nobody wants to deal with, and certainly he’s had his tough share of bad luck here. I feel bad about that, but hopefully we’ll get him back soon, get him back on his feet.”
