The Oregon-to-NFL pipeline keeps growing, and a few familiar Ducks are already giving fans reasons to circle the schedule before the season even starts.
For Denver, Bo Nix is back after an ankle injury that ended his season and, as the source report put it, effectively ended the Broncos’ Super Bowl hopes in 2026 when they lost to the New England Patriots without him. Now the former Oregon quarterback is returning in what should be a closely watched third NFL season, and Denver is talking big about where he’s headed.
Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb drew a notable comparison when discussing Nix’s development, linking his growth to Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen.
"There was some long hours in the offseason, the passing game staff, of really trying to evaluate and watch the last two years of him playing. And how does our first read marry up with our second read?
Depth wise, play call wise, where we are in the point of the game. I think we’ve done a good job managing that, however, that allows him to get to his feet as well.
There’s some positives, some negatives. Josh Allen was very similar at that stage in his career with Bo, and I think it’s noticeable the strides he’s taking," Webb said.
That ankle will be worth watching as Nix works his way back, but the bigger picture is hard to miss: Denver sees real upside here, and the Broncos enter 2026 as one of the more interesting teams in the league.
There’s another former Duck in the AFC West who is also set for a major storyline. Justin Herbert is heading into his seventh season, and the Chargers are easing him through the preseason.
Coach Jim Harbaugh laid out the plan before Los Angeles opens against the Houston Texans on Thursday, Aug. 13.
"We have a plan. Veterans, starters, not an exact 11, more like 15 that will warm up for the game [in Houston] and then not play.
Then about 27 or so will play in the first preseason game. Second preseason game, we'd like to see the starters, the veterans play a series.
And in the third game, we'd like to see them play two series," Harbaugh said.
Herbert’s résumé already includes Offensive Rookie of the Year honors from 2020, but the playoff questions still hang over him. In three postseason losses, he has completed an average of 54.7 passes while throwing 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He won the Rose Bowl at Oregon, but he still has not won a playoff game with the Chargers.
That sets up a pair of meetings with Nix that should grab attention all season, with the two former Ducks facing off twice as division rivals. For Oregon fans, that’s the kind of quarterback matchup that makes Sundays a little more interesting.
Elsewhere in Las Vegas, rookie wide receiver Malik Benson is making noise after his time at Oregon and his path into the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s trying to carve out a role in a Raiders receiver group that includes Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, and Tre Tucker.
Nailor’s injury has opened the door for Benson, and quarterback Kirk Cousins made it clear he likes what he’s seen.
"I really like our sixth-round pick, Malik Benson," Cousins told ESPN's Dan Graziano.
The Raiders also have another former Duck in the mix. Jackson Powers-Johnson is expected to line up at right guard under the new coaching staff, with Tyler Linderbaum also on the roster at center. Even so, the job is far from settled, and one of the team’s biggest battles is shaping up between Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers.
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Ohio State Fans Wont Love Who Helped Oregon Grab The Top Spot
Preseason polls are already giving the 2026 college football conversation an early jolt, and Oregon has landed right in the middle of it. On3 put Ohio State at No. 1 even without a first-place vote, but the Ducks still managed to draw some top billing of their own, a sign that the national view of Dan Lannings program remains strong even as the roster and staff continue to evolve.
Oregons case starts with the kind of continuity that poll voters tend to notice this time of year. Dante Moore is back at quarterback, the Ducks bring back key receivers and most of their defensive starters, and the foundation from last season is still intact. The wrinkle is on the sidelines, where Oregon will have new coordinators after coaching departures, leaving the Ducks with plenty of proven talent and just enough uncertainty to keep the top of the rankings interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Crowded QB Room Says A Lot About This Teams Ceiling
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For Thomas, the situation also carries a longer view. He has the kind of profile that could eventually make a starting job elsewhere tempting if the path stays crowded in Eugene, but for now he is focused on helping the Ducks in whatever role they need. That kind of internal competition says plenty about Oregons ceiling, because it suggests the staff is trying to balance immediate production with future upside at the most important position on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Markus Dixon Returns To Oregon With One Big Role To Prove
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What makes Dixon worth watching is how much remains unsettled about his fit. Oregon brought him in to help the tight end group, but his exact assignment is still being determined as camp unfolds, leaving him with a clear chance to carve out something bigger than a reserve role if he can quickly show the staff where he belongs. [Read more 🡒]