The Ducks might be playing it close to the vest, but if you read between the lines - or, in this case, the photos - there’s a whole lot to be excited about in Eugene right now.
On Monday morning, longtime Oregon insider Rob Moseley posted a few practice shots to social media that quietly sent a loud message. In the photos, taken during media availability, three wide receivers - Gary Bryant Jr., Dakorien Moore, and Evan Stewart - were spotted suited up in pads, helmets resting neatly on the sideline, going through warmups.
That’s notable. Very notable.
All three wideouts have been on the shelf, each with their own injury story. Stewart’s been out the longest - he tore his patellar tendon back in June and hasn’t played a snap all year.
Moore went down during practice the week Oregon prepped for Iowa. And Bryant Jr. tweaked his ankle against the Hawkeyes after hauling in a 22-yard reception.
Since then, the Ducks have been without three of their most dynamic weapons.
Head coach Dan Lanning has been dropping breadcrumbs for weeks, hinting that reinforcements might be on the way. Malik Benson even teased the idea of “getting all our guys back” on the Mighty Oregon podcast recently. Now, with the Ducks just days away from their first-round playoff matchup against James Madison, those breadcrumbs are starting to look like a full loaf.
Let’s be clear: Oregon doesn’t need this trio to beat the Dukes. The Ducks opened as heavy favorites - three touchdowns - and that was before any of these names were trending toward a return. James Madison, despite a 12-1 record and a Sun Belt title, played one of the softest schedules in the FBS this year - ranked 123rd in strength of schedule.
Meanwhile, Oregon has already shown it can light up the scoreboard without them. Wins over Iowa, Minnesota, USC, and Washington came with Malik Benson, Jeremiah McClellan, and Kenyon Sadiq leading the charge in the passing game. That group has been more than serviceable - they’ve been explosive.
But if Bryant Jr., Moore, and Stewart are truly back - even in a limited capacity - this offense shifts into another gear. We’re talking about three elite talents, each capable of changing a game with a single touch.
Stewart, when healthy, is a route technician with top-end burst. Moore brings a blend of speed and polish that’s rare for someone so young.
And Bryant Jr. is a proven playmaker with a knack for finding soft spots in coverage.
Their presence alone would force defenses to stretch thin, opening up even more room for Oregon’s run game and underneath routes. It’s a pick-your-poison scenario - and the Ducks have a lot of poison.
Dan Lanning, never one to tip his hand, kept things vague after practice. “Everybody’s closer than they were yesterday,” he said. That’s classic coach-speak, but coming on the heels of those practice photos, it feels a little more meaningful.
Whether this is a calculated bit of gamesmanship or a genuine sign that Oregon is getting healthy at the right time, one thing is clear: the Ducks are already dangerous. With a full arsenal, they’re downright terrifying.
And if this is just the start of a playoff run, we might be seeing a lot more from this trio - and a lot more of Rob Moseley’s camera roll.