Joshua Jefferson transferred to Iowa State in 2024 and has since become an extremely productive contributor for the program. His injury status continues to draw attention as the No. 2 seed Cyclones prepare to face No. 6 seed Tennessee in a Sweet 16 showdown on Friday.
Will Joshua Jefferson Play vs. Tennessee? The Latest Iowa State Injury Update
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger spoke with reporters on Wednesday and shared an encouraging but cautious update on Jefferson’s injury status.
“He’s working tirelessly every day,” Otzelberger said. “Countless sessions in the training room. Doing everything he can. His ankle is getting better every single day. It’s going to take right up to game time… and he’s doing all that he can do. There are no percentages, predictions, unlikely, or likely.”
“We’ll see each day there is pretty significant progress, but we’ll see where we’re at game time Friday night. Each day, there is pretty significant progress, but we’ll see where we’re at game time Friday night. He’s starting to walk a little bit now. It’s not perfect, but it is progress.”
Jefferson initially suffered a sprained left ankle during Iowa State’s first-round 108-74 win over Tennessee State on Friday, March 20. The injury caused him to miss his first game since joining the Cyclones for the 2024-25 season.
“How Joshua Jefferson went down yesterday is not something we have seen in two years,” Otzelberger said following the injury. “When he goes down, you know it’s real.”
The setback forced him to sit out Iowa State’s second-round win over No. 7 seed Kentucky on March 22. Jefferson underwent an MRI on March 23, which did not yield any concerning results. The 6-foot-9 standout remained on the bench, using a knee scooter and wearing a protective boot as his team advanced to the Sweet 16 with the 82-63 win.
Jefferson was still not cleared for full participation at Wednesday’s practice session. Instead, he spent time working individually with the team’s training staff off to the side, continuing his rehabilitation process while his teammates went through regular drills.
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Jefferson said that coming to Iowa State was the “best decision” in his life, and the stats have backed it. Since arriving at Iowa State, he has become one of the team’s most versatile and productive players, averaging 16.4 points per game. He also ranks second on the roster in assists with 4.8 per contest and leads the team in rebounding with 7.4 per game.
His dominance has been on full display throughout the season, including a historic achievement of recording two triple-doubles (against UCF in January), the most by a single player in Iowa State history.
