Is starting CB Jahlil Florence going to play in the opener against Idaho?

Missing the end of the 2023 season, Oregon football cornerback Jahlil Florence knew that his offseason rehab for a knee injury would be critical if he wanted to return to 100 percent by the 2024 opener.

Florence played in 11 games for the Ducks and got injured on Nov. 18 against Arizona State, missing the remainder of the year. It was a tough blow because he was one of the bright spots in the secondary and looked like a budding star at cornerback. And now, it looks like his return might be put on hold at least one more week.

According to Dan Lanning at his weekly presser, Florence is unlikely to play in the opener against Idaho on Saturday night as he continues to recover from that knee injury.

"I don’t think Jahlil (Florence) or Dave (Iuli) will be available."

- Dan Lanning

That would be a tough blow for the Ducks as Florence returns as one of the top defensive backs on the team and he's projected to start at cornerback along with Washington transfer Jabbar Muhammad. That might be one of the best 1-2 cornerback combinations in the country.

But it'll have to wait another week, at least.

Florence had a strong sophomore season in which he accounted for 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and a pass breakup. His return will be much-needed and when he is fully healthy, this team will be at its best. Why risk it against Idaho, though?

It feels like this was a tough decision but a smart one by Lanning to make sure his starting cornerback is back to full strength before bringing him back.