The Oregon Ducks left Stillwater with more than a loss on their hands. They also came home dealing with a growing injury list, and Monday’s update from Dan Lanning brought both a little clarity and a pretty tough blow.
The biggest news: offensive lineman Trent Ferguson is likely done for the season because of a knee injury. Ferguson started Saturday and had already logged most of the second half against Boise State.
"We won't probably get to see (Ferguson) again," Lanning said. "I feel bad for that kid because he's worked really hard."
Oregon may have a replacement option ready in Douglas Utu. He didn’t play in the second half against Boise State and was out entirely in Stillwater, but Lanning said Utu could be back this week against Portland State and step in at left guard.
The Ducks are also still sorting through the situation at tight end with Jamari Johnson. Johnson traveled to Oklahoma State and warmed up with the team, but the ESPN broadcast reported at kickoff that he would not play. Lanning later explained that Johnson was injured against Boise State and had not practiced before the Oklahoma State game.
"Still evaluating it with Jamari," Lanning said. "We'll see what that looks like. I think I mentioned last week he might be down for a few (games), so we'll see if he's able to get back to where he's able to perform."
If Johnson misses time, Oregon will have to keep leaning on its untested tight end group. Penn State transfer Andrew Olesh started against Oklahoma State and caught one pass. Freshman Kendre Harrison also saw action, and Clemson transfer Markus Dixon played one snap.
Another injury came on defense when Carl Williams IV launched himself into Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker at the goal line and ended up motionless on the turf. He did not return. Lanning did not detail the injury, only saying Williams will be monitored by the medical staff, the same approach being taken with Johnson.
Oregon gets a quick turnaround now, with Portland State coming to Autzen Stadium on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will air live on Big Ten Network.
In Other News...
Dante Moores Response To Oregons Loss Could Matter More Than Fans Think
After Oregons loss to Oklahoma State, Dante Moore did what quarterbacks are expected to do and then some, standing in front of the media and taking responsibility for the mistakes that helped sink the Ducks. He pointed to misreads and misthrows, not excuses, and made it clear he intended to treat the game as a lesson as Oregon turns the page to Portland State.
For a team that still has plenty in front of it, Moores response may matter as much as the loss itself. Oregon is counting on its quarterback to settle in, and Moores long-term upside has already put him on the radar as an NFL prospect, but the immediate focus is simpler: show growth, clean up the errors, and give the Ducks a steadier version of the offense in the next matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Is Chasing College Footballs Elite With A Price Tag Few Can Match
Oregons rise under the current college football spending race has become impossible to miss, and The Athletics latest reporting puts a number to the ambition. The Ducks are among the few programs spending at the very top of the market, part of a group of 11 teams believed to be at roughly $40 million or more in player NIL deals, with Ohio State, Oregon and Texas sitting at the front of the pack at about $50 million apiece.
For Oregon, that kind of investment is no longer just about keeping pace with the sports blue bloods. It is the price of trying to stay in the same conversation as the most aggressive rosters in the country, even as the gap between haves and have-nots keeps widening. The report also underscores how far the middle and bottom of the Power Four have fallen behind, with Boston College near the bottom and some traditional basketball powers still spending only about $15 million a year, a reminder that the Ducks are operating in a very different lane. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Has A Dan Lanning Problem Fans Can't Ignore
A loss to Oklahoma State would have stung for Oregon no matter when it came, but the timing made it even harder to brush off. The Cowboys had been stuck in a 12-game losing streak, and yet the Ducks still walked out of the game with more questions than answers, from a quarterback who struggled against Oklahoma States defense to coaching decisions that did little to steady things.
Now Oregon heads into a meeting with Portland State carrying the kind of uneasy aftermath that follows a result like that. One bad afternoon can be explained away in September, but for Dan Lanning and his staff, the concern is what the performance said about how the Ducks handled pressure, adjusted in-game and responded when the script stopped working. [Read more 🡒]