The No. 6 Oregon Ducks left Stillwater with more than a painful 39-31 upset loss to Oklahoma State. They also left with a growing injury list, and head coach Dan Lanning spent his postgame session sorting through who got hurt, who was already limited, and who still needs evaluation.
The day started with star tight end Jamari Johnson already ruled out, and the Ducks were also missing offensive lineman Douglas Utu. Utu had left the Week 1 win over Boise State and was replaced by Trent Ferguson, then dressed but did not play against Oklahoma State.
Ferguson later exited with an injury of his own. Running back Jordon Davison was the other known injury after rushing for 23 yards and a touchdown on eight carries before leaving early.
Lanning said Johnson’s issue traces back to last week’s season opener and has affected him in practice all week. The coach didn’t sound alarmed about the long-term outlook.
"Jamari really got banged up in the last game," Lanning said. "He hadn't been able to go this week in practice. Jamari, we should get back - I don't know if it will be this week or next."
Davison’s situation was less clear.
"Jordon, I don't have an eval on him yet," Lanning said.
The injuries up front only made Oregon’s trench problems more glaring. Dante Moore was sacked four times while going 14-of-29 for 191 yards, and the Ducks managed just 90 rushing yards on 30 carries. Their longest run went for only 14 yards.
"We had some guys that got banged up," Lanning said. "Trent got banged up and Doug wasn't really able to go today. We gotta evaluate that.
"We gotta improve in the run game. We gotta find more creative ways to run the ball … We have to figure out what we can do at a high level when it comes to running the ball."
Oregon also had one notable scare on defense. Star defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington headed to the locker room late in the second quarter, but he returned later and was able to take situational reps.
Even with Washington back in the mix, the Ducks’ defense had a rough afternoon. Oklahoma State piled up 554 total yards, including 317 through the air and 237 on the ground.
Caleb Hawkins and Drew Mestemaker each topped 100 rushing yards, finishing with 110 and 109, and both scored a touchdown. The Cowboys averaged 5.9 yards per carry.
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Dante Moore Suddenly Has Oregon Fans Worried About A Bigger Problem
Dante Moore came into the season carrying plenty of attention after choosing to return to Oregon rather than head to the NFL Draft, and his opener at least offered some early reassurance. But the first half against Oklahoma State was a different kind of test, the sort that can quickly shift the conversation around a quarterback expected to steady the Ducks in a big spot. NFL scouts were on hand to watch him closely, and the performance did not help quiet the scrutiny.
Moore completed just 5 of 15 passes for 45 yards and took two sacks before halftime, missing several key throws and never quite finding the kind of rhythm Oregon needed. The Ducks also had bigger issues than just the passing game, with the defense struggling to contain Oklahoma State as Oregon went to the break down 10 points. For a team that entered the night with postseason ambitions and a quarterback under the microscope, the first-half concern was less about one bad stretch than the possibility of a larger problem unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
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Dante Moore has not been able to settle the offense, completing 5 of 15 passes for 45 yards without a touchdown, and the passing game has been hampered by drops as much as accuracy. The ground attack has not offered much relief either, leaving Oregon with a lot to clean up if it wants to avoid letting a shaky half turn into something much worse. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Has A Tight End Concern Heading Into Big Ten Play
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Andrew Olesh got the start in Johnsons place, and the next few days will be about watching whether Johnson can get back on the field or whether this turns into a longer-term issue. For a team trying to settle in before the league schedule ramps up, the uncertainty at tight end is one more thing Oregon would rather not be sorting out right now. [Read more 🡒]