First availability report reflects uncertainty, optimism for Oregon fans

For fans who pay attention to such things, the first required injury report ahead of Oregon's College Football Playoff Game against James Madison was concerning, but a bit hopeful.

The thing you fear most is a run at one position. With Justius Lowe entering the portal, Kyler Kasper out for the year and Dillon Gresham and Jack Ressler rehabbing season-ending injuries, the Ducks are down to three healthy wide receivers, Malik Benson, Jeremiah McClellan and Cooper Perry.

The 2025 toll has been ridiculous. It seemed a devastating blow when Evan Stewart tore his patellar tendon in June. It looked grim when whispers of Dakorien Moore tweaking his knee in practice surfaced before the Iowa game, then it felt like Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett on the catwalks of the Alamo when Gary Bryant Jr. went down in the first quarter.

Two days ahead of the game with James Madison, there's finally a sign-- a faint sign-- of relief. For the Ducks opening game of the College Football Playoff Stewart, Moore and Bryant Jr. are listed as "Questionable," not "Doubtful" or "Out," an upgrade in their status.

They practiced this week and murmurs suggest they could be back for the playoffs. All Dan Lanning would say was, "They're closer than they were yesterday." Offensive coordinator Will Stein, the new head coach at Kentucky, who said he would leave the team before the playoffs ended "over my dead body" told reporters, "If we've got to play with 10 offensive linemen on the field and one quarterback, we'll figure it out. We'll figure it out either way".

Hopefully it won't come to that. There's some question about the idea of inserting the three rehabilitating, dynamic wideouts back into lineup on a wet, cold, slippery surface in a game the team is favored by three touchdowns, yet to be effective later in the playoffs they need to knock off the rust and reintegrate into the offense.

Will Stein keeps the engine running with duct tape and gum

Lowe is listed as OUT, which means the corps is even more depleted. While it won't come down to the "ten offensive linemen and a quarterback" formation, that might be fun with Luke Moga coming off the bench to take the snaps. He had runs of 25 and 22 yards in Oregon's nonconference games against Montana State and Oklahoma State.

Thus far Stein has achieved a work-around employing multiple tight ends, running backs in the pattern and stellar work by Benson and McClellan. Facing playoff-caliber teams, particularly Texas Tech and Indiana over the next two rounds, getting three elite playmakers back in the lineup would be a huge equalizer.

It comes down to a question of how questionable is questionable, and whether the Ducks have enough ammunition in the meantime.