Oregon left its season-opening win over Boise State with more good news than bad, but the Ducks still had a few notable absences on the sideline. As the team shifts toward its first road test at Oklahoma State, Dan Lanning says at least one of those missing playmakers should be back soon, while another will be out for a bit longer.
Freshman wide receiver Jalen Lott, transfer receiver Iverson Hooks and transfer running back Simeon Price all sat out Saturday in street clothes while working through injuries. The biggest concern appears to be Lott, whose status had already been the subject of speculation during fall camp.
Lanning addressed that Monday and said the freshman wideout’s absence won’t be a short one. At the same time, he left the door open for a return later in the season.
"Jalen will be down just for a little bit," Lanning said. "(He) had a minor corrective surgery on his hand.
Iverson tweaked his hamstring in the middle of last week. He just wasn't able to go full strength.
Think we'll have him back this week."
Hooks’ situation sounds far more encouraging. After dealing with what appeared to be a preseason injury, he could be back as early as this weekend.
Oregon also had some moving parts along the offensive line against Boise State. Douglas Utu got the start at left guard, but he exited in the middle of the game and did not return, with Trent Ferguson stepping in. Another lineman expected to factor in, freshman Tommy Tofi, did not play at all.
Lanning didn’t provide an update on Utu, and he didn’t explain Tofi’s absence. For now, both remain possibilities for Saturday’s trip to Stillwater, where the Ducks are expected to face temperatures in the triple digits. That kind of heat makes depth up front more than a luxury.
Oregon heads into the week looking to get healthier before its Sept. 12 matchup with Oklahoma State, a 9 a.m. PT kickoff in Stillwater.
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