Oregon Ducks WR Tez Johnson (Shoulder) Expected To Return This Season, Says Dan Lanning

750 The Game Staff

While Oregon football is poised to become the first No. 1 ranked team in the CFP this season, they received positive injury news on star wide receiver Tez Johnson.

Johnson exited in the first quarter of Saturday’s 38-17 win at Michigan after making his only catch of the game, an 11-yard reception for a first down. He was later seen on the sideline with his right arm in a sling and did not return to the game.

Despite missing most of Saturday, Johnson still has more than double the catches of any receiver on Oregon’s roster this season (64) and leads the team in receiving yards (649) and receiving touchdowns (8).

Monday, ESPN reporter Pete Thamel said Johnson’s shoulder injury will not require surgery and he is expected to return before the end of the season.

Some good news for the #GoDucks https://t.co/Y5uEssqh2R

— 750 The Game (@750TheGame) November 4, 2024

Head coach Dan Lanning had a similar message in his Monday weekly press conference.

“Tez will be down certainly right now in the near future,” said Lanning. “But I do anticipate us getting Tez back here soon.”

Starting right guard Marcus Harper also exited the game with what looked like a tough knee injury, but Lanning also said Harper should be available to return this year.

“Neither one of those injuries are as bad as maybe they appeared on the field,” he said. “I think we’ll have those guys back. But I don’t know when (sic) that looks like right now.”

Oregon is the unanimous No. 1 ranked team in the AP Poll for the first time this season and third straight week overall with the top spot. They’re expected to also be No. 1 in the first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday.

The Ducks (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) host Maryland (4-4, 1-4) on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The Terrapins are coming off a bye week. Oregon is a 25-point betting favorite on DraftKings.