Iowa football: Hawkeyes' Alaric Jackson sidelined with knee injury

IOWA CITY, Ia. — Heralded Iowa tackle Alaric Jackson exited Saturday's season-opener against Miami of Ohio with a right knee injury and didn't return to the sideline in the second half. He exited the field on crutches and headed to the locker room right before halftime. 

Iowa officials didn't have an update on Jackson's status. 

Jackson went down on the 19th-ranked Hawkeyes' second drive late in the first quarter. He jogged off under his own power, but Jackson couldn't get right from there. He spent the rest of that drive pedaling on the stationary bike and walking gingerly on the sideline.

Jackson eventually migrated to the bench, where medical personnel laid him down and continued working on his right knee. Jackson's helmet was eventually removed.

"He's barely putting any weight (on his right knee)," sideline reporter Rob Brooks said as Jackson walked to the locker room.

The Hawkeyes had to do some shuffling as a result. Iowa shifted Tristan Wirfs to left tackle, moved Levi Paulsen to right tackle and brought in Kyler Schott and Cody Ince at the guard positions.    

Losing Jackson for any period of time would be a massive blow. He and Wirfs generated plenty of preseason hype as two of the best tackles in the country. 

Dargan Southard covers Iowa and UNI athletics, recruiting and preps for the Des Moines Register, HawkCentral.com and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.