While Iowa is in search of its offense, that isn’t the only problem it has.

Injuries have dogged the Hawkeyes and have played a big role in the case of the missing offense.

James Butler, Ike Boettger, and Boone Myers are just a few who have been hit by the injury bug, making Iowa’s offense a disappointing, underwhelming show.

“We’re not as deep as we thought we’d be or hoped to be,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said when asked about the offensive line. “We’ve got enough there, and we’ve got the right guys and all that type of thing, so it’s just a matter of pushing forward, and we’re open to anything right now to help the team in any phase.”

Boettger and Myers were both set to be starters on the unit that won the Joe Moore Award in 2016 for best offensive-line unit in the country.

With the addition of Butler in the backfield, it looked as if the running game was going to play a key role, meaning the line would be instrumental to the offense’s success.

While that hasn’t necessarily changed, the injuries to the two seniors have certainly made things harder.

The openings have allowed Alaric Jackson to move into a starting role, as well as open up the potential for more playing time for Tristan Wirfs and Levi Paulsen, who, Ferentz said, now sit in the top seven.

James Daniels has also been injured at times, keeping the offensive line shifting all over, but the group isn’t making excuses.

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“Life happens, and you just gotta kind of roll with it,” Myers said. “There’s going to be adversity. Things aren’t going to go the way you want them to, but you can’t keep crying about it. You just gotta keep attacking and keep going each day.”

Butler’s absence makes for another depleted group on the same side of the ball.

Ivory Kelly-Martin and Toren Young shone in the North Texas game after both Akrum Wadley and Butler went down, but Wadley has carried nearly the full load in every game since.

Kelly-Martin has had one carry in the past two games, and Young hasn’t received one.

While the depth may pertain to a certain group, Wadley said, it’s the whole team that has to adjust.

“It’s the team,” he said. “It’s not just one person. We all got a job to do, and we all gotta do it. It’s not just one group. We all play together.”

“[Injuries are] all a part of the game.”

On the defensive side of the ball, some similar things are starting to emerge.

Manny Rugamba hasn’t practiced this week, setting Michael Ojemudia up to start against Illinois.

Luckily for the Hawkeyes, the secondary, especially at cornerback, has been deep enough so one injury hasn’t shut it down.

Josh Jackson has had a tremendous first season as a starter, and he is tied for the Big Ten lead in interceptions.

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Ojemudia has also held his own when thrust into action, while true freshman Matt Hankins has been a pleasant surprise.

And the secondary might get even deeper soon.

Brandon Snyder, the lone returning starter in the secondary, tore his ACL during spring ball, but he has been cleared to play against the Illini.

Ferentz said Snyder could find himself on the field on Saturday.

It has only been about six months since the injury occurred, so Snyder’s impending return shows the determination he has to get back on the field.

While he hasn’t been on the field playing, he has played a role by being a leader and helping the younger defensive backs develop

“His leadership off the field has been great,” Jackson said. “I think when he comes back and plays, it’ll be even better.”

The injuries the Hawkeyes have had to deal with throughout the season have not been easy.

If Iowa can find a way to persevere in the face of adversity and pick up its first Big Ten win of the season, that will say a lot about the team.