Iowa State loses star linebacker to leg injury ahead of rivalry game

Matt Campbell and the Iowa State Cyclones got terrible news this week, as one of their top defensive threats was announced out indefinitely with an injury. Linebacker Caleb Bacon will miss this Saturday and many other games during the 2024 season.

Bacon had surgery on Sunday to repair a lower left leg injury. He hurt his leg in the first quarter of the win over North Dakota.

Bacon was second on the team a season ago with 60 tackles. While he will certainly miss time, the Cyclones are holding out hope that he can return this season. Matt Campbell, the Cyclones’ head coach, had this to say when asked about Bacon:

I do think he’ll be back at some point later this season, or have the opportunity to get back later in the season, based on recovery. Obviously, that’s a tough blow for Caleb, just because he’s done such a great job, but the great news is from what it could have been and what it was, there’s a lot of positivity around it, too.

Zachary Lovett and Jack Sadowsky V will pick up the slack for the Cyclones in the linebacker room. Iowa State has a big game this coming weekend, as they take on in-state rival Iowa on the road.