PISCATAWAY -- Rutgers stars Janarion Grant and Quanzell Lambert are out for the remainder of a season that just took a dramatic turn for Rutgers.

Both seniors suffered injuries in Saturday's game against Iowa that will prevent their return, multiple sources told NJ Advance Media.

Grant, Rutgers' best playmaker, injured his right ankle at the end of a 76-yard catch-and-run that epitomized his explosiveness as he broke three tackles and darted in and out of traffic.

Iowa's Desmond King -- the 2015 Thorpe Award winner as the nation's best defensive back -- corralled Grant by the shoulder pads and stepped on the upper part of his ankle while cutting off the angle to the end zone.

Wearing the pain on his face, Grant was helped off the field late in the first half without putting any pressure on the ankle and carted back to the locker room. He was seen on the sideline in the second half out of uniform, wearing a cast and using crutches for support when not on the trainer's table.

"We told him we love him," said Andre Patton, Grant's fellow wide receiver and close friend. "It's so unfortunate. We have to all realize the game can be taken away from us like that. We, as a receiving corps, have to step our game up to another level.

Rutgers coach Chris Ash declined to comment on Grant's status until after speaking with medical personnel. He will next speak to the media Monday afternoon.

It appears that the injury happened just past the cut-off for Grant to capitalize on his medical redshirt year if he is out for the season. Under NCAA rule, a player cannot participate in more than 30 percent of the season and Rutgers is one-third of the way through a 12-game schedule, though there can be exceptions.

"It hurts a lot because he is a real competitor," halfback Robert Martin said of seeing Grant in pain on the sideline. "He wants to be out there no matter what. He plays through injuries. I know how tough he is. To see him not get back out there, I know it hurt him."

Grant accounts for 35.1 percent of Rutgers' all-purpose yards this season, with 138 rushing, 210 receiving, 112 on punt returns and 195 on kick returns. He also threw a 21-yard touchdown pass on a trick play.

The injury ends Grant's bid to overtake Terrell Willis as Rutgers' career leader in all-purpose yardage. He also might not have an opportunity to break the NCAA record for career combined kick and punt return touchdowns, as he currently sits in a seven-way tie at No. 1 with eight.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound speedster also has had a hand in six of Rutgers' 13 touchdowns -- with three on the ground as a wildcat quarterback or option back, two on special teams and the one pass.

Where does Rutgers go to replace Grant?

Multi-sport athlete Jawuan Harris -- who led the Big Ten in stolen bases as a true freshman -- slid into Grant's role against Iowa.

"I definitely take (practice) reps as the No. 2," Harris said.

True freshman Dacoven Bailey -- a wide receiver who is playing defensive back with an arm cast right now to help with depth concerns -- is cut from a similar mold as Grant.

But...

"You have to tailor what you do a little more," offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer acknowledged. "There's no guy who's going to break three tackles and go 76 yards."

Lambert, a redshirt senior defensive end, was clutching his right knee in pain before he was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter. He does not appear to be a candidate for a sixth year of eligibility.

Named the team's best defensive lineman by the coaching staff last season, Lambert made the squared-up tackle of halfback LeShun Daniels on the play he was injured.

One play later, Iowa ran for a victory-sealing nine yards to convert a third-and-7 on the side that Lambert vacated.

Walk-on Darnell Davis, who has played well as a reserve, and pass-rush specialist Myles Nash are next up as ends.

LISTEN: Episode 3 of NJ.com's Rutgers Football podcast

Rebuilding Rutgers: From The Ashes takes you inside the new football regime. This episode dives into Ash's recruiting efforts his first year on the job.



Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.