The Ducks left Utah on Saturday with five players exiting the game early due to injury. Cristobal addressed the media on Wednesday after practice and provided updates on the injured athletes while emphasizing the team’s preparation within its second and third string players.

“We’re getting them to understand the importance of knowing your craft through and through,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said. “Knowing that this is more than just answering a question in a meeting or stepping through on a walk-through. When we go practice and we go our live stuff, that they got to be able to react and then have that carry over into the game.”

Both sophomore middle linebacker Sampson Niu and freshman left tackle Steven Jones exited Saturday’s game with concussions. On Monday, Cristobal said both entered the week in concussion protocol.

Niu was filling in on the starting lineup for senior middle linebacker Kaulana Apelu, who did not make the trip to Salt Lake City due to suffering a lower-leg fracture during Oregon’s game against UCLA.

Freshman inside linebacker Adrian Jackson hurt his shoulder after falling awkwardly on it during a blocked punt in the fourth quarter on Saturday. He sat out Monday’s practice but returned on Tuesday and has been full-go ever since.

Adding to the injured list, are running backs CJ Verdell and Cyrus Habibi-Likio. Verdell left during the second half of the game with a neck injury, while Habibi-Likio suffered a severe leg contusion and stayed overnight in Utah to prevent the risk of a blot clot.

Habibi-Likio returned to Eugene earlier in the week and participated in practices. While both were limited, Verdell and Niu returned to practice on Wednesday.

Cristobal said Jones’ status for Saturday’s game against Arizona State was doubtful as they would re-evaluate his condition Wednesday afternoon.

On the flip side, the injuries have allowed more of the younger players to gain reps and experience in practice

“You see a lot of guys that are going to be really good football players,” Cristobal said.

As an example, he used Cam McCormick’s injury absence to highlight the depth of guys stepping up.

“In the tight end position we are fortunate and unfortunate,” he said. “We lost Cam, our most physical blocker, but we have a really good group of guys that are Jake Breeland, Ryan Bay and Kano [Dillon] and [Hunter] Kampmoyer.”
Follow Maggie Vanoni on Twitter: @maggie_vanoni