Oregon football injury report: What we know as No. 1 Ducks prepare to play Maryland

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. (2) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first half at Mountain America Stadium Nov. 18, 2023, in Tempe, Arizona.

Oregon will be down two starters on Saturday for its 4 p.m. game against Maryland in Autzen Stadium.

But the top-ranked Ducks (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) could also be getting one starter back.

Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. has been practicing this week and on Wednesday was first in line fielding kicks during punt-return drills.

The junior, who made 12 starts in 2023, hasn’t played this season due to an undisclosed injury. If healthy, his return couldn’t come at a better time for the Ducks, who will be without Tez Johnson, their No. 1 receiver and punt returner who was injured in the victory against Michigan this past week.

Bryant caught 30 passes for 442 yards and four touchdowns last season, his first at Oregon after transferring from Southern California.

“I know he wants to be out there,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said on Wednesday. “Right now he looks in position to be able to help us.”

Bryant had extensive experience returning punts his two seasons as a Trojan, something the Ducks could now use with Johnson unavailable. Freshman wide receiver Ryan Pellum initially replaced Johnson on the punt return unit against the Wolverines but lost a fumble on his first return to set up a Michigan score. Pellum was then replaced by veteran receiver Evan Stewart.

Starting right guard Marcus Harper II is also a new addition to the injury report and won’t play against the Terrapins after getting hurt against the Wolverines late in the game. Sophomore Kawika Rogers replaced him for the Ducks’ final 12 snaps.

Other options to replace Harper are redshirt freshman Gernorris Wilson and, if healthy, junior Dave Iuli.

“We’ll figure out who gives us the best…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/oregon-football-injury-report-know-225423320.html

Author : The Register-Guard

Publish date : 2024-11-06 22:54:23

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