Iowa QB Cade McNamara (concussion) out vs. Wisconsin

Field Level Media|published: Tue 29th October, 16:17 2024

Oct 26, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Cade McNamara throws a pass against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara will miss Saturday's game against Wisconsin due to a concussion.

McNamara sustained the head injury during last Saturday's 40-14 home win over Northwestern. He exited in the second quarter.

McNamara took a hard hit on the play and "hit the turf pretty hard," Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday.

Ferentz said McNamara is under close watch.

"As far as the severity and all that, my experience, and I'm certainly not qualified medically other than I listen to a lot of things and watch, seems like each and every one is a different discussion, so with some luck hopefully he'll start turning the corner," Ferentz said.

McNamara has completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 1,017 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.

Brendan Sullivan, who replaced McNamara against Northwestern, will be the starter against the Badgers.

Sullivan completed 9 of 14 passes for 79 yards and rushed eight times for 41 yards and a touchdown against Northwestern, his former school.

Sullivan has rushed for three scores this season and Ferentz is hopeful that he will turn down his aggressiveness a bit as the starter against Wisconsin.

"I'd be fine if he slides," Ferentz said. "If he's going to run the ball, slide. I'm fine with that. If we had 10 quarterbacks I'd still ask him to do that. ...

"But you can't play scared, either. You've got to go out and play, and play the way you play."

--Field Level Media