It didn’t take very long for some of Oregon’s backups to see playing time in the Ducks 53-7 rout of Washington State.
Unfortunately, some of that playing time was a result of filling in for injuries rather than resting the starters with a substantial lead.
Both senior wide receiver Cameron Colvin and junior running back Jeremiah Johnson are likely done for the season, according to coach Mike Bellotti.
Colvin fractured his right ankle on his only reception of the game in the first quarter and will likely be out for six to eight months. Bellotti likened it to former quarterback Kellen Clemens’ injury in the 2005 season.
In the second quarter, Johnson took his fourth handoff of the game for five yards before a Washington State player hit his right knee and tore his ACL. Johnson will have surgery and will be out for the rest of the season.
“Those are serious blows,” Bellotti said. “Our depth will be tested.”
For running back Jonathan Stewart, it was more than just loss on the depth chart.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Stewart said. “It’s tough. Jeremiah, for one, that’s my dude, my best friend here. To see him down on the ground like that … it was a shocking experience.”
Stewart said the injuries won’t alter how the offense operates; it’s only a matter of players elevating their game, including himself.
“We’ve talked about the fact that when a guy goes down, somebody has got to pick up his shield and sword,” Bellotti said.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly doesn’t plan on altering the offense, including the triple option attack when Johnson would line up as a receiver and motion into the backfield. Kelly said both Johnson and Andre Crenshaw have been cross-training as receivers, so the Ducks will continue to run those plays. There will be adjustments, however.
“You’ll see some tight ends more,” Kelly said. “You got to go with who’s healthy.”
Freshman wide receiver Aaron Pflugrad was one of the beneficiaries of receiving playing time due to the Ducks’ injuries. Not only did he fill in for Colvin by catching four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, he subbed for punt returner Andiel Brown who was nursing some minor injuries.
Wide receivers coach Robin Pflugrad, Aaron’s father, is confident that his younger receivers will be able to fill the void.
“They have no choice,” he said. “They’re next up and will play a major roll the rest of the season.”
Brink held at homecoming
Washington State quarterback and Eugene native Alex Brink didn’t field questions from reporters after the game and instead spoke for about a minute before retreating to the locker room.
“I want to apologize to my teammates. It was f—ing embarrassing,” Brink said. “I definitely wanted to come home and play better in Eugene.”
Brink threw for 251 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions and fumbled once in the first quarter. He finished the day 15-of-33 passing and was sacked six times.
“I can’t feel sorry for him,” Oregon safety Matt Harper said. “He came in thinking he was going to do a lot of stuff and we held him.”
The Ducks came prepared to give Brink a hard time. Linebacker John Bacon said it was the most prepared the defense had been for a game all season.
“We showed him a few different coverages and from a quarterback’s perspective, I’m sure that’s fairly difficult,” Bacon said.
At least one Oregon player felt sympathy for Brink’s ruined homecoming: Quarterback Brady Leaf, who said he’s become friends with Brink over the years, feels for the guy.
“It’s unfortunate for him coming home like this and getting down 40-0,” Leaf said.
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