Oregon thinks its depth at receiver is too much after Tez Johnson’s injury

EUGENE — In the first quarter of the number 1 Oregon ducks‘overcoming the Michigan Gluttona crucial part of Oregon’s offense went down. On the Ducks’ first possession of the game, wide receiver Tez Johnson hit the ground after an 11-yard reception, walked to the locker room and then returned to the sideline with a swing.

Fortunately for Oregon, Johnson’s shoulder injury likely won’t be season-ending; however, the recipient will be away for a while. Without Johnson, other receivers on Oregon’s roster will have to step up, and younger players will likely get more opportunities to prove themselves.

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

In Johnson’s absence during the Michigan game, Holden proved he is an offensive threat who deserves to be on the field. After an incident during Oregon’s game against Ohio State that resulted in Holden being ejected, he sat out on the road at Purdue and played limited snaps against Illinois. However, Holden played 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 the opportunities that came his way,” Oregon coach said. Dan Lanning said about Holden. “He was a big 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. This 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 with three receiving touchdowns on 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 has also been a key part of Oregon’s offense. His athleticism is undeniable and has been on full display all season. He has caught nearly impossible passes, including a one-handed catch in the end zone that didn’t count due to a penalty, but was still impressive.

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

“I was really just trying to play my role,” Stewart said. “Because we were never really able to win that much at A&M.”

Lanning has preached during his tenure at Oregon, “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” and this statement applies to the second-year wide receiver as well Justius Lowe.

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

“By far,” Johnson agreed.

Lowe had a breakout game during the matchup at Ohio State, where his role 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 clear space for Oregon’s running backs.

Since his solid performance against the Buckeyes, Lowe’s role has expanded as he continues to prove why he is a player who deserves big opportunities despite his age.

“He’s one of those guys that keeps us pushing as a receiving room. He’s a young guy, but he feels like an older guy in that room now,” Johnson said. “His consistency and his running. He’s got really good hands. He can get to the top of a defense so quickly you don’t even see it; he just blows past you.”

The Ducks also have a handful of talented freshman wide receivers who could make an appearance during the remainder of the regular season. These younger players include Jeremiah McClellan and Ryan Pellum, both of whom saw the field at Michigan.

With Johnson out, the Ducks can also use their talented tight ends more as receivers Terrance Ferguson, who is back on the field after having his appendix removed.

While Johnson’s injury will certainly impact Oregon’s offense, the Ducks have a stacked receiving corps that will certainly be able to make up for it.