CORVALLIS - Oregon State looks set to get two key starters back when Montana comes to town, even as a few other pieces are still working their way back.
Left tackle Josiah Timoteo and cornerback Blake Thompson both left last week’s loss to Texas Tech multiple times, but coach JaMarcus Shephard said each is expected “to be ready to go” this week.
Timoteo had already missed one possession against Houston, and his absence last week was felt in the way the Beavers handled pressure. Oregon State’s line held up well in pass protection against two ranked Big 12 opponents, though the heat picked up in the snaps where Noah Thomas and Jacob Anderson filled in for Timoteo.
Thompson, meanwhile, made his first career start after redshirting last season and finished with eight tackles.
There’s still uncertainty elsewhere on the injury front. Safety Harlem Howard remains “day-to-day” with an unspecified issue, and Shephard said the team does not yet know exactly when it will clear up.
“He’s dealing with something that to be quite honest about it, we’re not 100% sure exactly when it’s going to resolve itself,” Shephard said. “It really is something that was a little bit perplexing when it all happened at random.”
Howard had been in line to factor into the deep safety rotation with Sailasa Vadrawale III, Drake Vickers and Jahiem Patterson.
Receiver Eddie Freauff, who has been sidelined since a lower-body injury in fall camp, is back to running at practice. Cornerback Noble Thomas Jr., who has been limited all offseason, has also been cleared to “do more” in practice.
Freauff, Oregon State’s leading returning receiver, and Thomas are both questionable for this week, though Shephard made clear the staff would welcome the boost.
“We’d love to get both of those guys back,” Shephard said. “I’ve got my fingers crossed on it. But they are really, really close.”
Montana is 3-0, while Oregon State enters at 0-2.
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Oregon State's Loss Still Revealed A Breakout Beavers Fans Needed
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The biggest reason for optimism, though, came from the passing game, where quarterback Atkinson completed 29 passes for 399 yards and two touchdowns while the receivers finally flashed big-play ability. True freshman Legree emerged as the headliner with eight catches for 240 yards and two scores, a breakout performance that should change how Oregon State is defended moving forward, especially if the Beavers can keep getting that kind of production from a young playmaker. [Read more 🡒]