Conflicting reports surfaced Friday over the status of Oregon receiver Evan Stewart’s DUII case, leaving the picture murky after his Oct. 18 arrest in Springfield on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants.
KATU reported at about 7 a.m. PT, citing municipal court records, that prosecutors had declined to file a DUII charge tied to the arrest. But about an hour later, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Ryan Clarke reported that prosecutors were still waiting on evidence before deciding whether to file.
"Prosecutors are awaiting delivery of evidence, which can sometimes take days or weeks depending on if it was a blood draw, before formally filing charges."
Clarke’s report did not say whether Stewart had a blood draw or whether a DUII charge would eventually be filed. He also posted a statement from Springfield Police Deputy Chief George Crolly saying, “The prosecutor has not dismissed charges. The prosecutor has not filed charges as they are awaiting evidence,” according to Clarke’s Friday post on X.
Clarke also shared a police statement saying Stewart had been issued a violation-level citation for driving while suspended. That citation was in addition to the DUII allegation, not a replacement for it.
The senior has also been out because of injury, and his status has only gotten cloudier. He was downgraded from questionable to doubtful late last week before the Nebraska game because of an undisclosed injury, and he is listed out again on Oregon’s official availability report ahead of the Ducks’ trip to Illinois.
Stewart has been one of Oregon’s top targets this season. He leads the team with 27 catches and 352 receiving yards, and his four touchdown receptions are tied with Dakorien Moore for the team lead.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning addressed a separate issue at his Monday press conference, saying the program was dealing with an incident that did not meet its standards. He did not name Stewart, and he said he would not take further public questions on the matter.
"Obviously, there's an incident this weekend that didn't match our standard here in our program," Lanning said. "There will be appropriate action taken.
We're still gathering some details on what that situation looks like, but that will be handled internally. I'm not going to respond to any other questions about that.
We're going to handle that with our guys."
"There's an expectation of how you have to act and how you need to perform," the Oregon coach continued. "(It) kind of overshadows the success that we had on Saturday, which is disappointing. But that will be handled by us internally, and it's not something I'm going to speak on publicly."
With Stewart and Jeremiah McClellan both out on the availability report, Dakorien Moore is expected to carry more of the load at receiver. Oregon also expects Dylan Raiola to start on Saturday over Brock Thomas, with Dante Moore also unavailable.
Moore has been practicing and going through pregame warmups before Oregon’s last two games after suffering a concussion at USC on Sept. 26, but Lanning has not given a timetable for his return.
Oregon and Illinois will kick off at 12 p.m. PT at Gies Memorial Stadium. The game will air on Big Ten Network.
In Other News...
Oregons Offense Looks Thin Entering A Crucial Big Ten Test
The Big Tens first availability report for Oregons trip to Illinois did not do the Ducks any favors, with a few key names on both sides popping up before a pivotal conference matchup. For Oregon, the biggest absence is Dante Moore, the starting quarterback who will not be available, and wide receiver Evan Stewart is also out after his recent arrest, leaving the Ducks to sort through a major personnel change at a time when every Big Ten game already carries weight.
Illinois at least appears to be getting closer to full strength at receiver, with Jayshon Platt listed as questionable but reportedly trending toward playing after practicing recently. For Oregon, though, the early injury and availability picture raises an obvious question about how the offense will function without two of its most important pieces in one of the seasons more demanding road tests. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Needs Answers Fast As Dylan Raiola Faces Early Road Test
Oregons first trip to Champaign in 33 years arrives with more questions than comfort, and the Ducks are bringing a new quarterback situation into a road setting that should tell plenty about where this offense stands. Dylan Raiola is at the center of it for Oregon, while Illinois is turning to Michael Clayton II, leaving both sides to sort through offensive issues at a time when execution is likely to matter more than reputation.
The Ducks have to answer in a hurry on the line of scrimmage, where Oregons protection and Illinois ability to create pressure could end up shaping the game. On the other side, the Ducks will be watching closely to see how their defense handles Clayton II in his first start, because a clean performance there would go a long way toward stabilizing a matchup that already feels like it could hinge on patience and one or two mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon's Young Receivers Are Suddenly Central To Dylan Raiola's Next Test
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Jalen Lott and Messiah Hampton have both been asked to handle more, and Raiolas next test now comes with those young targets central to the plan. Dan Lanning has pointed to the way Oregons younger players have answered the call, noting how many snaps this season have gone to players who began their careers in Eugene, which says plenty about how much the Ducks are relying on development as much as depth right now. [Read more 🡒]