Brendan Sullivan injury news: Kirk Ferentz reveals chance QB returns this season

Injuries have been adding up for the Iowa Hawkeyes, particularly at the quarterback position. The most recent of those for head coach Kirk Ferentz has needed to deal with was Brendan Sullivan.

After going down with an ankle injury, it was reported that Sullivan would be out for the remainder of the season. However, Ferentz pushed back on that a little bit at a recent press conference, explaining that he might be able to come back for a bowl game.

“He’s started back,” Kirk Ferentz said. “That’s the good news. Somebody told me yesterday that Brendan had been pronounced done for the season, which I chuckled because at that point it was a 12-day season. Talk about headlines, I guess you try to grab attention. Not that you guys write the headlines. I understand that.”

This is Brendan Sullivan’s first season at Iowa after transferring in from Iowa. In relatively limited playing time this season, he’s completed 24 of 35 passes for 344 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also has 144 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

Coming out of Davison (Mich.) High, Sullivan was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2021, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He was the 743rd-ranked player overall and the 56th-ranked quarterback in that recruiting cycle.

“But yeah, he’s out this week. We’ll see what next week brings. I’m not optimistic,” Ferentz said. “But I would assume the bowl game. But nothing is broken, so hopefully we get him back.”

Coming into the season, Cade McNamara was the starting quarterback for Iowa. After he was injured in 2023, missing the majority of the season, he suffered a concussion in October that forced Brendan Sullivan into action. Behind Sullivan on the depth chart, Iowa recently listed Jackson Stratton, another transfer.

Kirk Ferentz has shared that it’s Jackson Stratton who he expects to start in Iowa’s next game against Maryland.

“Jackson is gonna, I assume Jackson, he’ll start,” Ferentz said. “I think we’ll start the way we finished is probably the best way I can put it. He finished out in California, so that’s kind of where I sit. Yeah, absolutely. And then we’ll see who can do what, but yeah, if we’re playing tomorrow, that’s how it’d be. Everybody else has a chance outside of Brendan, he for sure is not playing this week.”

Iowa rounds out its season with a road trip to Maryland before returning home for rival Nebraska. The Hawkeyes are also bowl-eligible.