Bryce Boettcher wasted no time looking like Bryce Boettcher.
In his first NFL preseason game Thursday night, the Indianapolis Colts rookie linebacker came downhill with the same kind of force Oregon fans know well, blowing up a first-quarter run against the New England Patriots and delivering one of the biggest hits of the night. Boettcher, a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, read the play quickly, shot into the backfield and flattened the Patriots running back.
The reaction came fast. Social media lit up, and both Oregon and Indianapolis fans immediately recognized the same relentless style Boettcher showed in college. He finished his preseason debut with three tackles in a 13-13 tie at Gillette Stadium and also earned a mention from ESPN as one of the Colts rookies who stood out in the opening week of preseason.
Boettcher also saw work with the Colts’ second-team defense, and the early returns were encouraging. He looked quick, sharp and decisive when he attacked the football, the kind of first impression that can matter in a roster battle. He has already picked up first-team reps during training camp, too, and he described that opportunity in a way that fits his approach.
“I don’t really know if I expected it (the first-team reps) or not. I just kind of expected that the best player who shows the best effort and plays the fastest should play. They’ve given me a good opportunity to showcase my ability so far,” Boettcher said.
Boettcher’s path makes him a familiar name in Eugene. He grew up just miles from Autzen Stadium and became one of Oregon’s most distinctive players as a former walk-on and dual-sport athlete. He starred in football and baseball for the Ducks, and his profile only grew from there.
He’s also one of three former Ducks on the Colts, alongside defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and tight end Pharaoh Brown.
Boettcher wasn’t the only former Oregon player to make a preseason entrance Thursday. On the other side of the league, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza found wide receiver Malik Benson for a 19-yard gain against the Arizona Cardinals in Benson’s first NFL preseason action.
Benson ended the night with two catches for 26 yards on four targets. The Raiders fell 27-14, but Benson has already been making noise in camp. He has emerged as Mendoza’s top target, and projected starting quarterback Kirk Cousins also singled him out.
"I really like our sixth-round pick, Malik Benson," veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins told ESPN's Dan Graziano.
For Boettcher, the Oregon connection runs deep. He made it clear in an exclusive interview with Oregon Ducks on SI reporter Bri Amaranthus that his view of the Ducks’ ceiling is as high as it gets.
"I don't want to jump ahead of myself, but I think everyone else is thinking national championship. That's the mindset every year.
If you aren't thinking that going into the year and manifesting it, your mind's in the wrong place. So I'll put it out there right now.
Ducks are winning the national championship next year," Boettcher said.
That confidence comes from a player whose rise has already become part of Oregon lore. Boettcher was also drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, but he returned to Oregon football with his sights set on helping the program reach the College Football Playoff.
He became the first Duck to win the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on, and his climb has made him a fan favorite in Eugene.
Now, Oregon fans have reason to keep an eye on Sundays, too, with Boettcher, Benson and the rest of the Ducks making their way through the NFL.
In Other News...
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There is also at least some uncertainty around Davison, which has made Prices role look even more important than it did a few weeks ago. Samples has not sounded alarmed, noting that Davison has been practicing well and pushing through his recovery, but the Ducks may still have to lean on Price sooner than expected if they want to keep the backfield stable early in 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Next Quarterback Battle Is Starting To Come Into Focus
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Tristin Gaines has emerged as one of the more interesting names in that search, with the Texas standout saying Oregon is recruiting him the hardest. The Ducks are also in the mix for Donald Tabron II and Josiah Boyd as part of that same 2028 push, a reminder that this is less about one splash commitment than building a sustained plan at the sports most important position. For Oregon, the next quarterback battle is already being fought on the recruiting trail, and the early reads suggest the staff has real momentum even if the full picture is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Dierre Hill Jr. Could Give Oregon A New Kind Of Weapon
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What makes Hill interesting is not just the added work behind the scenes, but the way Oregon plans to use him. Coaches see him as more than a backfield piece now, and they expect to move him around in multiple spots as his understanding of the offense continues to deepen. If that progression holds, Hill could become one of the more dynamic and flexible weapons on the roster. [Read more 🡒]