Oregon social media was aflame last night over a single unconfirmed report of an injury to a key Duck player. This morning Matt Zenitz of CBS/247Sports confirmed reports that wide receiver Evan Stewart suffered a significant injury and his status for the 2025 season is in doubt.
Injuries happen. The training guys do now in the "offseason" is intense: Cone drills, one-on-one workouts, hours in the weight room, heaving tires, running in sand. It's summer, so there are trips to the river and the mountains with hazards of their own.
I remember one summer, around 2012, when the internet went nuts about an injury to De'Anthony Thomas. Panic was rampant until the official Oregon football account ran a picture of him dressed out for practice. He turned out to have a pretty memorable year.
It's irresponsible to run with every rumor. It's not fair to the player or his family or teammates.
It is accurate to say this: Oregon has built a flexible, deep, talented roster. If a player goes down, even a key player, there are some very committed and talented young people ready to step in and show what they can do.
This is not Will Stein's first rodeo. At UTSA in 2022 he dealt with a season in which the team lost their best running back. He had a patchwork offensive line and noodle-armed but mobile quarterback.
That team lost a close game to Houston to open the year, beat Army in overtime, lost to Texas in Austin by three touchdowns. They proceeded to win 10 games in a row, take the Conference USA title and reach No. 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Stein adapted the scheme to the team's strengths, using route combinations, quick passing and quarterback Frank Harris' running ability and accuracy to crank out 6,664 yards of offense and 36.8 points per game.
It's inevitable at some point in the year that someone will go down. The Ducks lost Tez Johnson for a few weeks last season. Stewart and Terrance Ferguson missed time. A team plays the guys that are ready to go.
In the Oregon passing attack, it's a deep, talented room: Justius Lowe, Kenyon Sadiq, Dakorien Moore, Dillon Gresham. Noah Whittington (best receiver out of the backfield) Jeremiah McClellan, Cooper Perry, Jurrion Dickey, Kyler Kasper Gary Bryant Jr., Malik Benson, Jack Ressler.
Jayden Limar and newcomer Dierre Hill are both electric in open space, and fast.
In particular, Kenyon Sadiq has the talent to be used like Tyler Warren was at Penn State last year, the pivot point of the offense. He's more talented than Warren, much faster, equally versatile and athletic.
Remember too that an Oregon running game featuring Makhi Hughes, Noah Whittington and Dink Riggs and the rest gives opponents a lot to worry about.
There's a strong running game with three of the best linemen in the West. Stein knows what he is doing.
Injuries and rumors of injuries are inevitable. The Oregon offense is still going to cook.