The Ducks have been without key players all season, but two injuries suffered Saturday in Oregon’s 35-0 win over Stanford will test the team’s mettle against Washington.
Senior cornerback Steven Moore went down after a punt return in the first half with a sprained ankle. Junior wide receiver Marcus Maxwell suffered a dislocated shoulder in the third quarter.
Both are listed as questionable for Oregon’s game at Husky Stadium in Seattle.
“It’s day-to-day,” secondary coach John Neal said of Moore’s status. “It doesn’t look good.”
Moore was able to gain four yards on one punt return before the injury forced him out of the game. Maxwell caught six passes for 43 yards from quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Jason Fife before leaving the contest.
Maxwell said he hurt the shoulder when the Ducks ran a screen play. He was switching the ball to his other hand when a Stanford defender stripped the ball from him. Maxwell reached for the ball and became entangled with a Cardinal defender, dislocating his shoulder.
“I knew immediately (it was hurt),” he said. “I couldn’t move my arm. I knew it was something. I thought I could shake it off. I thought it was just some type of impingement or something.”
The transfer from Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Calif., said he was disappointed that he probably won’t be able to step on the field against the Huskies.
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said sophomore Demetrius Williams is also a little banged up and bruised. Junior Kellen Taylor played against Stanford with a cast on his hand, but did not catch a pass.
“Obviously, Kyle Weatherspoon and Jordan Carey need to be the guys (to step up),” Bellotti said. “Kellen Taylor is still playing with a cast on his hand, although I think he can be effective given that. But certainly it puts more pressure on the two true freshmen.”
Moore’s loss may put the Ducks at an even bigger hole. Washington wide receiver Reggie Williams is one of the best in the Pacific-10 Conference and the Huskies complement him with Charles Frederick.
Frederick may not play Saturday, although The News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash., reported Tuesday that his hurt shoulder and ribs may be playable after all.
Neal said the Ducks won’t alter much of their defensive plan due to the loss of Moore.
“You don’t ever want to lose your most experienced corner and say things are OK,” he said. “It’s tough, but I think we’ll overcome it.”

Cal change
Oregon’s game against California on Nov. 8 at Autzen Stadium has been changed to a 7 p.m. start.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m., but TBS Superstation announced Monday it has decided to air the game nationally. It will be one of five games this season that the Ducks will play at night.
Oregon opened the season with a night contest at Mississippi State, then played road night games against Arizona on Sept. 13 and Utah on Oct. 3. Saturday’s game with Washington will start at 7 p.m.
It will be the first night game at Autzen since the Ducks defeated Arizona State, 42-24, on Nov. 3, 2001.
 

Players of the week
Oregon defensive back Aaron Gipson on Monday was named the Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week.
The sophomore recorded four tackles on Oregon’s kickoff coverage team. The Cardinal entered the game with an average of 25.2 yards per return — good for 12th in the nation — but the Ducks held Stanford to 15.3 yards per return in the shutout win.
Oregon’s offensive player of the week was running back Terrence Whitehead, who set a career high with 172 yards rushing.
Linebacker Kevin Mitchell and safety Marley Tucker both earned defensive honors.
Brian Paysinger (offense), Jonathan Levin and Parris Moore (defense) and Caleb Rexius and Tommy Smith (special teams) were Oregon’s scout team players of the week.