Photo by Brian Ray/www.hawkeyesports.com Humboldt native Brady Ross cuts upfield for Iowa against Wisconsin earlier in the season.

IOWA CITY — Brady Ross would have every right to feel sorry for himself.

Iowa’s junior fullback suffered an injury during the team’s recent victory at Indiana, and the former Humboldt High School all-stater confirmed on Tuesday he will be sidelined for at least three weeks by a high ankle sprain.

The timing couldn’t be much worse for Ross, who has been a stalwart blocker in the trenches so far this season. The 19th-ranked Hawkeyes have scored 90 points in the last two weeks, accumulating 634 passing yards and 267 more rushing during lopsided wins over Minnesota and the Hoosiers.

Ross isn’t dwelling on the bad luck or the forced inactivity, though. He’s vowed to be patient and diligent in his recovery, and his role as a leader in the program won’t change.

“Of course it’s frustrating, but you don’t choose what happens to you. It’s all in how you respond,” Ross said. “It’ll be fine. It could have been much worse; I could have snapped my leg in half. There are far (more damaging) injuries in this game.

“Best-case scenario, it’s three weeks. We’ll have to see; it’s hard to say for sure at this point. Probably more like three to five (weeks). I just don’t want to come back when it’s not 100 percent and make it a recurring thing.”

Ross said he was blocking an Indiana defender when he “got rolled up on from behind.” In addition to the left ankle sprain, he has ligament damage in the front and partial damage in the back. Surgery isn’t out of the question, but it’s something that’s only been discussed as an option if the ankle doesn’t heal on its own.

Iowa faces Maryland at home this week, followed by a road game against Penn State on Oct. 27. The November schedule includes a trip to Purdue on Nov. 3, Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium Nov. 10, Illinois in Champaign on Nov. 17, and Nebraska at home on Nov. 23.

“We’ve played much better football with each passing week,” Ross said. “But we still have a long way to go. (Being ranked) means absolutely nothing at this point in the season.

“We’re playing well, but (the progress) has to continue. I’ll do what I can to work my way back, and help the program in any way possible until I get there.”