It's officially time to panic.

According to media reports on Monday night, Iowa's wide receiving corps—already top-heavy and inconsistent—just lots its brightest star for the rest of the regular season.

Hearing tonight that Matt VandeBerg broke his foot today in practice. Needless to say, not good news for the Hawkeyes. Ferentz update Tues. — Tom Kakert (@HawkeyeReport) September 27, 2016

No medical redshirt. He's played a third of the season. Iowa career is over. Iowa WR group is in deep, deep trouble. https://t.co/TOprVLfLkv — marcmorehouse (@marcmorehouse) September 27, 2016

Morehouse is as solid as they come, obviously, and he's not speaking with an ounce of caution or equivocation as he repeats Kakert's report. Morehouse also added that VandeBerg might be able to recover for a bowl, so we've got a reported timetable of about three months here.

VandeBerg was easily Iowa's leading receiver through four games, with 19 catches for 284 yards and three touchdowns. All were team highs, and only TE George Kittle (10 catches, 192 yards, two TDs) was anywhere near. The rest of Iowa's wide receivers, combined, had just 15 catches for 190 yards and two scores.

VandeBerg was C.J. Beathard's safety net in a passing game where he didn't have a whole lot of reliable options, and now that's gone. In short, this one of the toughest tests that the motto of "Next Man In" has been put through in the Kirk Ferentz era.

Iowa football hasn't put out a statement as of Monday evening, which is hardly a surprise, but expect Ferentz to address this in the near future. For now, VandeBerg's listed backup is one Ronald Nash; Nash is a sophomore juco transfer whose career totals at Iowa are as follows: 1 catch, 6 yards.

Buckle up.

EDIT: Iowa has released an official statement on VandeBerg's injury now -- VandeBerg did suffer a foot injury during practice on Monday and he will be out of action "indefinitely."