How Much More Can The Hawkeyes Take?

This incredible 7-0 season for the Hawkeyes has been amazing, but it has also been plagued with injuries. Week after week the Iowa Hawkeyes have battled past whatever team they've come across, but they continue to have to fight without being at full strength and without a healthy roster. At the beginning of the season, the Hawkeyes lost their first string running back, LeShun Daniels Jr. Because of this injury, they went to their next running back Jordan Canzeri, who has played very well for the Hawkeyes. Another key injury to the Hawks was Drew Ott's torn ACL that took him out for the season (more information on his injury here: http://n8hn6bd.blogspot.com/2015/10/heartbreaking-news-for-hawkeyes.html). Ott was arguably Iowa's best pass rusher and one of the Hawks' best leaders on the defensive squad. The Hawkeyes also have been forced to play without their deep threat wide receiver Tevaun Smith. Smith is the receiver of Iowa's longest passing play, scoring a touchdown on an 81-yard pass from C.J. Beathard. Despite these injuries to three key players in the Hawkeyes' roster, Iowa has continued to pull of miraculous, and sometimes lucky, wins against many opponents. However, the Hawks have still been hurt by the injury bug in recent weeks. On Saturday morning's game against the Northwestern Wildcats, leading rusher Jordan Canzeri, who had just come off a record-breaking game against the Fighting Illini, was injured, and it doesn't look good. During a play, Canzeri got sandwiched between two Wildcat players and one of them fell on his left leg. Canzeri, in serious pain, was unable to get up for several minutes and had to be helped off the field without putting any pressure on his left ankle. Canzeri exited the game, and did not play for the rest of the day. However, he later came back on the sidelines with a boot on his leg. The injury looks to be a serious ankle sprain, but there has been no word as of yet that explains what Canzeri is dealing with. Iowa had to turn to third string running back Akrum Wadley and fourth string Derrick Mitchell Jr. to win against their Big Ten West foes. Luckily for the Hawkeyes, Wadley played very well for the Hawkeyes scoring a school record-tying four touchdowns in what looks to be a very memorable game in this young sophomore's career. While the Hawkeyes are very pleased with the talented Wadley, they are concerned with his ball security, and hope he can hold on to the ball in crucial situations. If the injury to Canzeri wasn't enough, Hawkeye quarterback C.J. Beathard was not at full strength against the Wildcats. It was reported earlier in the week that Beathard had what looked to be a minor injury to his right groin, but he insisted on playing. While "Sunshine" C.J. still played well for the Hawkeyes, it was noticeable that he was not playing to his full capabilities. On multiple possessions, C.J. was unable to scramble for a first down like he usually does, and he was seen multiple times wincing in pain. Beathard was also sacked twice for a total loss of 20 yards. This is abnormal because Beathard is usually great at escaping the defense in the pocket and making big plays out of nothing, but due to his injury and lack of mobility, he was unable to make the plays he is capable of. Near the end of the game, head coach Kirk Ferrentz made the decision to sit C.J. and play backup quarterback Tyler Wiegers after Beathard was seen limping off the field. Hawkeye fans hope Beathard will be ok, and will need him to continue to play at a high level as the season nears its end. Fortunately for the Iowa Hawkeyes, next week is Iowa's bye week, which will give the Hawks some much needed rest, and time for recovery before their next game.