Iowa has several players out for the upcoming game. Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said sophomore cornerback B.J. Lowery suffered an arm injury — likely a broken wrist — around 8-to-10 days ago and will miss the first month of the season. Sophomore offensive lineman Nolan MacMillan remains out with a sports hernia and sophomore linebacker Dakota Getz (shoulder) is still recovering from off-season surgery. Both are out indefinitely.

Defensive tackle Carl Davis (leg) won’t play this week, Ferentz said, but “hopefully next week he will.”

Fullback Brad Rogers, who has sat since last December because of heart-related issues, still is not ready to play.

“I think we’re making progress,” Ferentz said. “We’re going to take that week-to-week, day-to-day, see how that goes. He’s fine. He’s out of harm’s way, doing fine there.”

Fullback open

Freshman Matt Meyers and junior Jonathan Gimm continue to compete for the vacant fullback role, Ferentz said Tuesday.

Meyers, a Plainfield, Ill., native, became a public surprise when he was listed even with Gimm as first-team fullback on Friday’s initial depth chart. Gimm was switched from tight end to fullback after last season.

One of the players will replace three-year starter Brett Morse, who graduated. Rogers’ heart ailment prevents him from filling that role. 

“(Meyers is) a young player a year ago who pretty much was a scout team player,” Ferentz said. “Then with Brad’s medical situation right now, it’s opened the door for opportunity.

“I think those guys are pretty even; we’ll carve out a role for both of them. Matt is a guy with a great attitude. He’s come in here, worked hard in every phase of the program. He’s improved over the last three weeks.”