Jamari Johnson’s return against USC wasn’t just a big game. It was a window into how much work he put in just to get on the field.
The Oregon tight end had missed two straight games with an injury, then came back for the No. 15 Ducks’ 41-27 road win over the No.
18 Trojans and put together the best outing of his career. Johnson finished with seven catches for 119 yards, both career highs, and became the first Oregon tight end since 2019 to top 100 receiving yards in a game.
He also logged three receptions of 15 yards or more.
After the game, Oregon coach Dan Lanning made it clear Johnson’s impact went beyond the stat line. Lanning said Johnson was limited all week before the USC matchup, and he also laid out the behind-the-scenes grind that helped make the performance possible.
“Jamari’s a dog. He's a smart, intelligent football player,” Lanning said.
“He’s different when he’s on the field. He’s that security blanket for our quarterbacks.
He blocks well in the run game. So, really glad that we got the opportunity to have him out on the field.”
Johnson had opened the season with 57 yards and a touchdown in Oregon’s win over Boise State, then sat out the next two games against Oklahoma State and Portland State. With the Ducks already carrying one loss and heading into a high-emotion matchup in Los Angeles, he returned at exactly the right time.
His path back was anything but simple. Lanning said Johnson missed practice on Monday and Tuesday, then was limited on Wednesday and Thursday. Even then, he stayed locked in on the details.
“Really didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday. Got limited reps on Wednesday and then still limited reps on Thursday,” Lanning said.
“So, for him to go out there and perform, stay locked in and engaged on his assignment - he’d take the script out to practice, and he’d walk through every single play because he wasn’t able to go through the play live. And I think that tells you a little about him as a player and what he was able to do.”
Johnson’s play also earned national recognition. He was named the John Mackey Award National Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Running back Dierre Hill Jr. picked up the Paul Hornung Award National Player of the Week honor as well, and the two were central pieces of Oregon’s offense. According to Oregon Athletics, they became the second Ducks tight end-running back duo to each go over 100 receiving yards in the same game.
While Johnson was out, true freshman Kendre Harrison and redshirt freshman Andrew Olesh filled in at tight end. Both players scored their first career touchdowns against Portland State, offering a glimpse of what’s ahead at the position. Still, Johnson remains the veteran in the room and is projected to be one of the top tight ends in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Now Oregon heads into a bye week after the USC win, with Johnson and the Ducks getting a chance to reset before another ranked test against the No. 23 UCLA Bruins on Oct. 10.
In Other News...
Oregons Early Slide Looks Very Different After This Schedule Reality
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The bigger test is still ahead. Oregons schedule has been loaded with ranked teams from the start, and that pattern is not letting up anytime soon, which means every week still carries the kind of weight that can reshape how this team is viewed nationally. For a program trying to keep itself in the playoff conversation, the early slide may end up looking less like a setback and more like the byproduct of a brutal road through the opening months. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Revived The Title Talk But One Doubt Still Looms
Oregons 41-27 road win over USC did more than strengthen the Ducks resume, it revived the kind of national title conversation that had been quieting around Eugene. The victory showed Oregon can travel, handle pressure and leave a statement on a big stage, which is exactly the sort of result that gets people rethinking where the Ducks belong in the College Football Playoff picture.
Still, the buzz around Ducks Confidential sounded a little more measured than celebratory. Aaron Fentress raised concerns about whether Oregons run game and defense are sturdy enough for the deepest part of the season, while George Wrighster pointed to real progress along the offensive line and on defense. Both landed on the same next test, though, because the upcoming Ohio State game figures to say plenty about whether this surge is a true playoff push or just another strong midseason run. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Suddenly Has A Chance To Prove This Start Is Real
UCLAs 4-0 start under first-year coach Bob Chesney has turned the Bruins into one of the early surprises of the 2026 season, and the AP Top 25 ranking has only added to the buzz. For Oregon, though, the conversation is less about the novelty of UCLAs hot start and more about whether it has real staying power. Dan Lanning has already put the Bruins in serious terms, comparing them to last years Indiana team that won the national championship, which is about as clear a sign as any that the Ducks are treating this matchup like a true test.
Oregon is coming off a win over USC and trying to steer clear of another stumble after the loss to Oklahoma State, so the timing of this game matters. If UCLA is going to prove this start is more than a fast opening month, doing it against a ranked Oregon team would be the clearest statement yet. For the Ducks, it is another chance to show the recent wobble is behind them before the schedule can spring another upset scare. [Read more 🡒]