Evan Stewart’s status has gone from concerning to even worse for Oregon heading into Saturday night’s matchup with Nebraska.
Stewart showed up on Wednesday’s initial injury report as questionable, but the Ducks downgraded him to doubtful on Thursday night, a strong sign he’ll probably be unavailable this weekend. For an Oregon offense already trying to survive a wave of injuries, that’s another hard hit.
The Ducks have been dealing with setbacks all over the roster. Dante Moore’s injury has been the biggest blow, especially after the offense looked abysmal in the first game he didn’t start this season. Oregon also lost starting offensive lineman Trent Ferguson for the year after the Oklahoma State game, and Jeremiah McClellan broke his foot in warmups before the Portland State game.
Stewart’s absence would strip away one of the most proven playmakers left in the receiver room. He hasn’t had the smoothest season since returning from injury, but he flashed exactly why he matters against UCLA, breaking free for a 44-yard touchdown when Oregon needed a lift.
If Stewart can’t go, Oregon will have to lean much more heavily on its depth. True freshman 5-star Jalen Lott is the name many fans want to see, and he made his season debut against UCLA after recovering from offseason surgery. If Lott gets more run, the Ducks would be counting on a pair of freshmen, with Messiah Hampton already stepping up while McClellan remains sidelined.
Another option is UAB transfer Iverson Hooks, who hasn’t made the impact Oregon expected when it brought him in this offseason. Hooks nearly went for 1,000 yards last season, and his ability after the catch could give the Ducks a useful chain-moving option no matter who is playing quarterback.
Oregon could also try to get more talent on the field by leaning into multiple tight end sets. That approach would put both Kendre Harrison and Andrew Olesh on the field alongside Jamari Johnson, and it could help the Ducks in the run game while forcing Nebraska to defend them differently.
Friday night’s final injury report should provide the last word before kickoff, but the trend line on Stewart doesn’t point toward good news.
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