Iowa’s injury picture is starting to clear up at just the right time.
DJ Vonnahme, Kamari Moulton and L.J. Phillips Jr. are all moving in the right direction as the Hawkeyes prepare for Saturday, Sept. 26 against Michigan in Ann Arbor, though their availability won’t be settled until later in the week.
“We’ll know by the end of the week on that, but at least optimistic," Kirk Ferentz said.
That trio was held out of Iowa’s win over UNI, and Phillips has not played since the season opener. Still, there’s reason for Iowa to feel better about where things stand now than it did a week ago.
Vonnahme’s potential return matters because it adds another option to an already productive tight end group. Iowa has leaned on Addison Ostrenga, Zach Ortwerth and Thomas Meyer for major snaps this season, and with Vonnahme out against UNI, Ostrenga delivered a 14-yard touchdown - his first since coming back from the injury that ended his 2025 season.
Even without Vonnahme, Iowa has gotten enough from that room to stay dangerous. But getting him back would give the Hawkeyes another piece in the passing game, and he remains their third-leading receiver with 67 yards despite sitting out the UNI game.
The bigger concern has been the backfield, where injuries have thinned Iowa out.
Moulton leads the Hawkeyes in rushing with 240 yards, including a huge opener against Northern Illinois when he piled up 183. Phillips started the year as Iowa’s No. 2 back before getting hurt early against Northern Illinois.
Iowa handled UNI just fine without either of them, with Xavier Williams, Braeden Jackson and Nathan McNeil each topping 100 rushing yards. But Michigan is a different test entirely, and Iowa would be in much better shape if that running backs room is close to full.
“Kamari’s still our number one guy," Ferentz said. "If he can go, he will go, he’ll be in there going.
And then we’ll just kind of work down the chain. I don’t envision us playing probably more than three guys, typically.”
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