Oregon Ducks Add Wide Receiver Depth After Tez Johnson’s Injury

EUGENE — In the first quarter of No. 1 Oregon Ducks‘ to win Michigan WolverinesA significant portion of Oregon’s offense is down. During the Ducks’ first possession of the game, wide receiver Tez Johnson went down after an 11-yard reception, headed to the locker room and then returned to the sideline with a sling.

Luckily for Oregon, Johnson’s shoulder injury likely won’t be season-ending; However, the receiver will be unavailable for a while. Without Johnson, other receivers on Oregon’s roster will need to step up, and younger players will likely have more opportunities to prove themselves.

Oregon’s depth in the receiver room doesn’t end with Johnson. The Ducks arguably have the best receiving room in the country. Even without Johnson, Oregon has Evan Stewart and NFL-caliber receivers still dominant. Traeshon Holden.

In Johnson’s absence in the Michigan game, Holden proved to be an offensive threat who deserves to be on the field. After an incident in Oregon’s game against Ohio State in which Holden was ejected, he started out at Purdue and played limited snaps against Illinois. But Holden had an explosive game in the “Big House.”

“I’ll tell you what impressed me most about Traeshon: his composure and his ability to take advantage of opportunities that came his way,” the Oregon coach said. Dan Lanning He mentioned Holden. “He was an important player for us tonight and we are proud of him and his performance.”

The 6-3 receiver from Kissimmee, Florida, had six catches for 149 yards. It was the most yards of his career and the first time he broke 100 yards in a single game. Holden ranks third on the team with 22 catches and fourth in receiving yards with 313. He also ranks second in scoring with three goals in the season.

Holden is expected to play a bigger role in Johnson’s absence, but he is not the only one. wide receiver Evan Stewart He also became a key part of Oregon’s offense. His athletic ability is undeniable and was on full display all season long. He caught nearly impossible passes, including a one-handed catch in the end zone that didn’t count for a penalty but was still impressive.

In Oregon’s toughest matchup of the regular season against then-No. 2 Ohio State, Stewart caught seven passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.

“I was really just trying to play my part,” Stewart said. “Because we never won that much at A&M.”

“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” Lanning preached during his tenure at Oregon, and that phrase also applies to the sophomore wide receiver. Justius Lowe.

“(Lowe) is definitely the smartest receiver in our room by far,” underclassman Stewart said.

“By far,” Johnson said.

Lowe had a breakout game against Ohio State in which his role was increased due to Holden’s absence. Lowe caught one pass for nine yards while playing a career-high 51 snaps. He also made key blocks to create space for Oregon’s runners.

Since his strong performance against the Buckeyes, Lowe’s role has increased and he has continued to prove why he is a player worthy of major opportunities despite his age.

“He’s one of those guys that continues to push us as a receiver room. He’s a young guy, but he feels like an old man in that room right now,” Johnson said. “His consistency and his route running. His hands are really good. He can get over the top of the defense so fast you won’t even see it; he’ll go right past you.”

The Ducks also have a handful of talented freshman receivers who could emerge throughout the remainder of the regular season. Those young players include Jeremiah McClellan and Ryan Pellum, who both saw the field at Michigan.

With Johnson out, the Ducks could use him more as a receiver, especially at tight ends. Terence Ferguson, The player who returned to the field after having his appendix removed.

While Johnson’s injury will certainly affect Oregon’s offense, the Ducks have a stacked receiving corps that can certainly make up for it.