COLUMBUS – For a brief time against Iowa, Ohio State was faced with injuries where it could least afford them.

On the save drive, left tackle Jamarco Jones and right guard and Demetrius Knox both feel to the turf at Kinnick Stadium and had to leave the game. The Buckeyes already are without Branden Bowen, who started the season at right guard but will miss the rest of the season following surgery for a broken leg.

Luckily for Ohio State, both Jones and and Knox were able to return to the game, though Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said the team’s depth on the offensive line is “not even close” to where it needs to be.

The game – which Iowa won 55-24 – was tied at the time of the injuries, which Meyer said he thought had an effect on the Buckeyes’ offense.

“Through the first quarter and a half, it was up-and-down the field and then we had those injuries,” Meyer said Monday. “It was 17-17, ball at midfield. You feel like you’re somewhat controlling the line of scrimmage – our offense, I’m talking about. High-end execution in the pass game, then a bunch of three-and-outs and we couldn’t get off the field [on defense].

“Then they start panicking on the offense, and that’s not good for anybody.”

Ohio State, which fell to No. 11 in the Associated Press top 25 poll, will play host to No. 13 Michigan State this week.

Contact Nicholas Piotrowicz at npiotrowicz@theblade.com, 419-724-6110 or on Twitter @NickPiotrowicz

First Published November 6, 2017, 7:30 p.m.