Where the Oregon Ducks offense goes from here following the devastating injury news to star wide receiver Evan Stewart
Head coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks were dealt a tough blow this week when it was announced that star wide receiver Evan Stewart would be lost for the 2025 season with a patellar tendon injury. The senior is the team’s leading receiver returning from last season, finishing with 48 receptions for 613 yards […]
Head coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks were dealt a tough blow this week when it was announced that star wide receiver Evan Stewart would be lost for the 2025 season with a patellar tendon injury. The senior is the team’s leading receiver returning from last season, finishing with 48 receptions for 613 yards and five touchdowns.
With the offseason losses of Tez Johnson, Traeshon Holden, and tight end Terrance Ferguson, offensive coordinator Will Stein was already tasked with replacing a lot of proven production even with Stewart returning. Without him, his job just got a lot harder. That is especially true considering that Oregon was already breaking in a new starting quarterback in Dante Moore.
For Stewart, he is going to have a fascinating dilemma in front of him. With the injury timeline laid out, he could conceivably be back in time for the 2026 NFL Draft process, and could begin preparing for the grind while recovering for the injury. Or Stewart could opt to return for 2026 by taking a medical redshirt. Who knows what that long term decision will end up being.
When it comes to the Ducks short term heading into 2025, they will have several options in front of them. They have an interesting mix of veteran options to soften the blow, and some very talented younger pass catchers on the roster. There are options, albeit somewhat unproven ones.
Veteran options
One good piece of news is that the Ducks are returning tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who is projected to be one of the nation’s best this fall. The 6-3, 245-pound pass catcher managed to haul in 24 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns last season despite sharing snaps with Ferguson. Sadiq should take some of the pressure off of the wide receiver room.
Of the older wide receivers in the room, there are some familiar names, but they all brings unique question marks. Redshirt senior Gary Bryant Jr. and redshirt junior Justius Lowe were projected to start along with Stewart. Each has had moments of good play, especially Bryant Jr. while at USC and during the 2023 season with the Ducks.
That duo did manage to make just 23 receptions for 215 yards and one touchdown a season ago. They will, however, be depended on to take on larger roles.
The Ducks did also welcome former Alabama and Florida State wide receiver Malik Benson via the transfer portal this offseason. The former top recruit has been a massive disappointment during the course of his career, and he was only able to haul in 25 receptions for 311 yards and a score for the Seminoles in 2024. I’d imagine he will get a shot to earn a bigger role.
Young talent
Perhaps the most likely breakout in the 2025 season is true freshman five-star Dakorien Moore. The freshman phenom has already been earning rave reviews with the program so far. Even if Stewart was healthy, Moore is the most talented wide receiver on the roster.
Moore was already expected to be a breakout, but this may have just sped up that impact.
Some other younger names to know include Jeremiah McClellan, Jurrion Dickey, and Cooper Perry. Each brings unique skill sets to the table, but almost zero production so far in very limited opportunities. That trio was able to record just four receptions for 31 yards a season ago, but bring 11 years of eligibility remaining between them.
There is no questioning the overall talent that is still in that room even with the absence of Stewart. The bigger questions is who exactly will catch up. In a perfect world, it would be a combination of both groups, but we will know soon enough.
The Oregon Ducks get one step closer to landing elite 2026 five-star that they have made an absolute priority in the recruiting class
The Oregon Ducks named finalists for five-star offensive tackle
