Oregon – Utah matchup

What injuries does Oregon have?

Here’s an article I found from five days ago re Oregon injuries.

Oregon Ducks linebacker Jackson LaDuke nearing return from injury, running back Sean Dollars could be available for postseason
Updated: Nov. 10, 2021, 2:50 p.m. | Published: Nov. 10, 2021, 2:50 p.m.
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By James Crepea | The Oregonian/OregonLive

EUGENE — Oregon expects multiple players who have been out with long-term injuries to return this season, including one as soon as next week.

Weak-side linebacker Jackson LaDuke, who suffered a preseason knee injury, is practicing with the No. 3 Ducks as they prepare to host Washington State on Saturday (7:30 p.m., ESPN) and could make his season debut next week at Utah.

“We think he’s maybe a week out,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said. “If you had to list him for this week he’d be questionable. If you had to list him for next week you’d say he’s a go.”

Even if LaDuke, a second-year freshman, returns he’ll likely benefit from the four-game redshirt rule. The Ducks have also gotten strong performances from freshman Jeff Bassa at weak-side linebacker over the past month.

Third-year freshman running back Sean Dollars, who injured his knee during winter conditioning, is “going to be available at some point this year,” Cristobal said. “It could be at the end, it could be in the postseason.”

Having redshirted in 2019, Dollars will lose this year of eligibility unless he petitions to get it back. He had seven carries for 81 yards in 2019 and seven carries for 47 yards last season.

Other long-term injuries for the Ducks that came during the season were to weak-side linebackers Dru Mathis (left knee) and Justin Flowe (right foot) and nickel safety Bennett Williams (broken fibula).

Cristobal confirmed Flowe, who tore his meniscus in the season opener last year and injured his foot in the season opener this year, won’t be back until the spring.

Previously ruled out for the season, but Mathis and Williams are making progress in their recoveries from surgeries. Mathis has been off crutches for several weeks and Williams is still in a boot but no longer using a scooter.

Cristobal left the door open to each of them possibly returning, most likely in the postseason.

“Those are reminders of how significant the type of injuries that we’ve had, the caliber of player that has been lost,” Cristobal said. “At the same time the caliber of next man up mindset our team has had to be able to forge forward.”

The coaching staff will address special teams and penalties. My worry is the defense, not that they will be bad, just not good enough – without some preparation and focus this week – which I expect. Oregon has watched the tape of the Utah-Arizona game. If Arizona’s offensive scheme caused mix-ups by the Utah secondary, Oregon may try to do something similar, and with better athletes and coaching.

However, I expect the Arizona game was a wakeup call, and will come out ready. Utah 34, Oregon 31.

IMO – the team that wins in the trenches wins this game.  This is how we lost in 2019 and is still the deciding factor in our games against the blue bloods.  Big test for our lines, I hope they’re up for it.

I wouldn’t be shocked, at all, to see Utah rest some guys that are borderline (injury-wise) going into the game on Saturday. Reason being, Utah can lose the game on Saturday, and still meet their goals as far as winning the PAC-12. They can’t though lose the game in Vegas, and still meet their goals.

I have no inside information on this, it wouldn’t shock me though, in the least.