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Iowa football down top three offensive weapons to start Week 3
The Hawkeyes have lost two of their top offensive forces from last season to injury
Sep. 8, 2025 12:52 pm, Updated: Sep. 8, 2025 2:34 pm
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IOWA CITY — The injury bug has certainly left its mark.
Three weeks into the season, Iowa football is reeling from multiple offensive injuries to key players. Heading into the Hawkeyes’ game against UMass, Iowa is without its top running back, wide receiver and now tight end.
Addison Ostrenga was carted off the field during last week’s Cy-Hawk game with an initially-undisclosed injury in the first half and didn’t return. Following the loss, head coach Kirk Ferentz wasn’t very optimistic about it at first glance.
“It doesn’t sound good,” Ferentz said. “We'll know more tomorrow and get it confirmed. He's got a lower leg injury, not good.”
Ostrenga has recorded more than 300 receiving yards over his four seasons at Iowa, making appearances in 35 games. He had just eight receiving yards so far this year before the injury.
The tight end room has five additional players available, with junior Zach Ortweth sliding up to the top spot-on this week’s depth chart. Graduate student Hayden Large and redshirt freshman DJ Vonnahme follow suit in that order.
Elsewhere on the offense, running back Kamari Moulton and wide receiver Reece Vander Zee were not listed ahead of the game against the Minutemen. Ferentz said both players were potentially “week to week” for their respective injuries.
Iowa’s loss of its top three offensive weapons put the Hawkeyes in a difficult place with just a week until Big Ten play begins. The passing game has struggled during both games this season, with just 131 yards recorded this season.
Running backs Terrell Washington Jr., Xavier Williams and Jaziun Patterson have had the most touches through two games, aside from quarterback Mark Gronowski. The running trio has a combined 56 attempts, with Washington leading the group with 20 carries.
Washington has maintained the starting role since Moulton left the season-opener with a shoulder injury.
Jacob Gill has had the most success out of the wide receiver room, picking up five catches against Iowa State on Saturday.
The Hawkeyes have just the upcoming game against UMass before beginning Big Ten play — facing Rutgers in New Jersey on Sept. 19.
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