Iowa loses QB Cade McNamara for 'likely' the rest of the season

Things just aren't going the Iowa Hawkeyes way, especially offensively, in 2023. 

Two weekends removed from an embarrassing 31-0 shutout at the hands of Penn State that renewed calls for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz's (son of head coach Kirk Ferentz) job, Iowa's offense has taken yet another loss.

It's being reported by 247Sports that starting quarterback Cade McNamara — who transferred to Iowa from Michigan in the offseason — will likely be gone for the rest of the 2023 season. McNamara suffered a left knee injury in the first quarter of Iowa's 26-16 win over Michigan State this past weekend.

What makes this injury most troubling is the fact that it was a non-contact injury. McNamara was scrambling and fell awkwardly on his left knee. He had to be helped off the field by trainers and had a hard time putting weight on the leg.

It's also the second injury to the leg that McNamara has suffered in the past few months. In August, McNamara missed much of fall camp due to a non-contact quad injury that he was apparently still struggling with during the season.

Sophomore quarterback Deacon Hill, who transferred from Wisconsin, will take over at quarterback for Iowa. He completed 11-of-27 passes for 115 yards, a touchdown and an interception against MSU. Ferentz feels good about him, though, because he was able to notch a lot of practice experience as McNamara struggled with his leg.

"Deacon, unfortunately has gotten more practice, I don't mean that in a negative way, but he's practiced more than a normal No. 2 guy would because of Cade's first issue," Ferentz said. "I think that benefitted him a little bit tonight. But it's one thing to practice. It's another thing to step in there when the game is on the line which it was. We had a lot of football to play. I thought he showed good poise out there. Played with confidence."

McNamara transferred to Iowa as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining, which means he should be able to play in 2024 should he choose to.