Maybe just maybe Iowa is getting one of its best defensive players back against Rutgers. That sounds like it might be the case for standout Hawkeye linebacker Jestin Jacobs.
The Gazette’s John Steppe reported that Jacobs was warming up ahead of tonight’s Big Ten opener against the Scarlet Knights. This comes on the heels of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz saying in his weekly press conference that Jacobs had a chance to play tonight.
“So, the first two guys have a shot I think to be back. We’ll see. (Brenden) Deasfernandes, I think, he practiced today and we’re hoping Jestin (Jacobs) does tomorrow. Again, it’s soft tissue so it’s hard to predict. Then, (Josh) Volk has been in and out, but we’ll see where he’s at. He’s not in the two deep right now, though. You won’t see him this weekend,” Ferentz said of several of the team’s injuries in his meeting with the media.
#Hawkeyes LB Jestin Jacobs is participating in warmups.
— John Steppe (@JSteppe1) September 24, 2022
According to Kennington Lloyd Smith III of the Des Moines Register, defensive lineman Noah Shannon was also participating in warmups. Both he and Jacobs returning is big news for the Hawkeyes in their Big Ten opener at Rutgers.
The wide receivers that were going through warmups were Brody Brecht, Arland Bruce IV, Jack Johnson, Nico Ragaini and Alec Wick. Of course, that’s notable because it means the Hawkeyes are likely without wide receiver Keagan Johnson.
In early warmups the WRs I see here are Brecht, Bruce IV, Jack Johnson, Ragaini and Wick.
Otherwise on the injury front: Jestin Jacobs and Noah Shannon are warming up. Don’t see DB Brenden Deasfernandes out here.
— Kennington Lloyd Smith III (@SkinnyKenny_) September 24, 2022
Jacobs had five tackles in Iowa’s opener against South Dakota State before exiting with his injury. The Englewood, Ohio, native registered 53 tackles last season. Shannon has seven tackles thus far this season, including a pair of tackles for loss. Last year, he finished with 47 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
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