Oregon’s trip to Columbus arrives with a different feel than anyone pictured back in August, and the first Big Ten injury report only sharpened that reality. The Ducks are dealing with a long list of absences for Saturday’s matchup with No. 12 Ohio State, headlined by quarterback Dante Moore and running back Jordon Davison.
Davison’s status had already been trending in the wrong direction after he left Oregon’s 34-26 win over then-No. 20 Northwestern, then later showed up on the sideline in street clothes and on crutches.
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported Wednesday that Davison is expected to be week-to-week with a lower-extremity injury. Dan Lanning didn’t spell out the full diagnosis earlier this week, but he did suggest the injury wouldn’t linger.
“You know, don't think it's long term with Jordon, but you guys will find out when the injury report comes out,” Lanning said.
The Ducks also got a mixed update at receiver and tight end. Jeremiah McClellan is probable after sitting out since Week 3, while Andrew Olesh is out, thinning Oregon’s tight end room. The rest of the out list includes wide receiver Messiah Hampton, defensive back Aaron Flowers, linebacker Brayden Platt, defensive lineman Matthew Johnson, offensive lineman Trent Ferguson and offensive lineman Dave Iuli.
For McClellan, the news is the most encouraging he’s had in weeks. He started 2026 strong before breaking his foot in warmups ahead of the Week 3 game against Portland State. Oregon hasn’t given a firm return date, and he’s been listed out on every weekly Big Ten injury report so far, but Lanning sounded more upbeat this week.
“Yeah, he's been doing some stuff with us in practice,” Lanning said. “Continue to evaluate where he's at, but certainly is promising, the growth and the steps that he's taken.”
If McClellan can get back on the field, that would matter for an offense already working around other missing pieces. If not, Oregon may need more from true freshmen Brandon Smith at running back and Jalen Lott at wide receiver in Columbus.
The quarterback situation is the biggest reason this game looks so different from the preseason script. Ohio State entered the year No. 1 in the polls, Oregon was No. 2, and Moore and Julian Sayin were both viewed as Heisman Trophy contenders. Instead, both teams have already absorbed major quarterback losses.
Moore suffered a concussion on Sept. 26 at USC, and after the Illinois loss, Lanning said he’s expected to miss the season. Sayin injured his right-throwing shoulder against Indiana on Oct. 17, and Ryan Day has said Ohio State is preparing to finish the year without him.
That opened the door for freshman Luke Fahey to start in the upset loss to then-unranked USC. Lanning said he knows Fahey well from recruiting and came away impressed with how he handled that first start.
“Yeah, I remember Luke coming out of high school. Went by seeing him when he was in high school, and he's an operator,” Lanning said.
“He's a really smart quarterback, right? He's a winner.
Like, but his intelligence that shows up. This is an offense that has a lot of a lot of moving parts.
I thought he handled it extremely well in that environment.”
Oregon has been rotating quarterbacks of its own, with Dylan Raiola starting the past two games after previously alternating starts with Brock Thomas. Raiola could be in line again Saturday, while Moore is still helping the Ducks prepare in another role.
Edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei said Tuesday that Moore has been working on scout team and giving Oregon’s defense a live look at Fahey.
“He's definitely giving us a good look. He's out there every day,” Uiagalelei said.
“You know, sucks that what happened happened, but he comes in every day with a smile on his face. He's like right across from my locker.
We talk all the time, but and he's all for the team. He's on scout team, dotting us up sometimes.
Yeah, so appreciate Dante, man.”
The Big Ten requires four injury reports beginning three days before the game, and Oregon’s next one is due at 5 p.m. PT on Thursday.
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