Matt VandeBerg Injury: Updates on Iowa Star's Recovery from Foot Surgery

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Matt VandeBerg reportedly suffered a broken foot during Monday’s practice that will require surgery, and it is uncertain when he will return to action.

Continue for updates.

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VandeBerg May Qualify for Medical Redshirt

Tuesday, Sept. 27

Chad Leistikow of the Des Moines Register reported VandeBerg will likely qualify for a medical redshirt:

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Ferentz Comments on VandeBerg's Injury

Tuesday, Sept. 27

"It is unfortunate that Matt will miss some time due to his injury," head coach Kirk Ferentz said in a release, per Jon Miller of HawkeyeNation.com. "We know that Matt will work extremely hard to get back on the field as soon as possible. We feel confident that some of our younger receivers will step up in Matt's absence."

According to Wayne Staats of Landof10.com, Ferentz later told the media VandeBerg "might have a chance" to return for a potential bowl game.

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VandeBerg to Undergo Surgery

Monday, Sept. 26

Tom Kakert of HawkeyeReport.com first reported the injury, and Marc Morehouse of the Gazette noted the surgery will occur Tuesday, adding, "How much time VandeBerg will miss is uncertain."

Morehouse also pointed out a medical hardship waiver is unlikely if the wide receiver were to miss the rest of the 2016 campaign, because he already appeared in four games this season, which is more than the 30 percent the NCAA allows when it grants the waivers.

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VandeBerg's Absence Will Be Major Loss for Iowa Passing Game

Losing VandeBerg for the entire season would be a devastating blow for the offense, as he's quarterback C.J. Beathard’s top target.

VandeBerg led the Hawkeyes with 65 catches for 703 yards a season ago and helped them reach the Rose Bowl. He already has 19 receptions for 284 yards and three touchdowns this year. Tight end George Kittle (10 catches for 192 yards) is the only other receiver with double-digit reception totals through four games for the 3-1 Hawkeyes.

Benjamin Ross of SB Nation’s Black Heart Gold Pants pointed to Jerminic Smith, Ronald Nash, Jay Scheel and Riley McCarron as other receivers who could shoulder more of the load without VandeBerg. However he said, "That’s not a group of names we have reason to hold much faith in," when describing the foursome.

Smith has seven receptions for 97 yards, McCarron has six catches for 75 yards, and Nash and Scheel have one catch apiece for a combined 18 yards.