Tag: terrance ferguson

When will Jordan Burch and Terrance Ferguson return to the Ducks’ lineup?

When will Jordan Burch and Terrance Ferguson return to the Ducks’ lineup? The latest injury report is here.

The Oregon Ducks are No. 1 in the country and a big reason for that is that they have avoided the injury bug to key personnel for the most part. A couple of injuries to Jordan Burch and Terrance Ferguson have cropped up, but this is where the quality of depth shows itself.

The ailments haven’t hurt the Ducks as a team yet. Both players are seemingly close to returning and that will only bolster the Ducks’ chances at completing the impressive run that they currently are on.

Next is a road game at Michigan and while it would be nice to have a travel squad that includes the defensive end and the tight end, we are currently unsure if that will be the case or not.

Here’s the full injury list for the Ducks as they get set to face the Wolverines in the Big House.

Jordan Burch injury update

Jordan Burch is still nursing a knee injury that he suffered in practice a few weeks back. The Oregon coaching staff say it wasn’t a season-ending type of injury and he’ll be back sometime this season.

That was before the Ohio State game. We have Burch listed as questionable for this game against Michigan and one has to think he’s on the verge of returning.

How long will Jordan Burch be out?

Again, the coaching staff said it would be a few weeks and it’s been a few weeks. Head coach Dan Lanning said that Burch practiced in limited fashion this week, and should be questionable for this game. If we had to guess, he’ll miss this game, but look for him next week with the home game with Maryland.

Oregon Ducks defensive end depth chart

With Burch out, we have truly seen the breakout that was expected for sophomore defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei.

Uiagalelei was having a nice sophomore season, but with the extra snaps he has had because of the absence of Burch, Uiagalelei is becoming the kind of defensive end opposing offensive coordinators dread. He’s a good pass rusher and is equally good at stopping the run.

This is part of the reason that Oregon isn’t in a position to rush Burch back onto the field — they have some great talent and depth at the position.

Terrance Ferguson injury update

Those darn appendixes. Ferguson had his removed before the Purdue game and that was three weeks ago. We have the Oregon tight end listed as questionable.

How long will Terrance Ferguson be out?

Ferguson has been practicing in limited fashion this week, and there’s a chance that he will play vs. Michigan. However, if he isn’t 100%, they might opt to hold him out another week. They’re going to need him for this upcoming stretch run.

Oregon Ducks tight end depth chart

While it’s a bummer seeing Ferguson out, the bright spot is that Kenjon Sadiq is receiving more touches and showing how versatile and dangerous he can be with the football. And as Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein said in the latest “Ducks vs Them” video, Patrick Herbert is always open.

Other Oregon Injuries to Know

  • Matthew Bedford — Knee — Out
  • Jahlil Florence — Leg — Out
  • Dave Iuli — Foot — Questionable 
  • Gary Bryant Jr. — Unspecified — Out
  • Kyler Kasper — Leg — Out
  • Jack Ressler — Unspecified — Questionable
  • Fox Crader — Unspecified — Questionable
  • Khamari Terrell — Unspecified — Out
  • My’Keil Gardner — Foot — Doubtful
  • Dakoda Fields — Knee — Out 

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Will Terrance Ferguson or Jordan Burch play this week? Injury updates for No. 1 Oregon Ducks

Oregon Ducks tight end Terrance Ferguson is recovering from an appendectomy. Here are the latest updates.

The Oregon Ducks have been playing some of their best football of the season over the past two weeks, rising to No. 1 in the nation for the first time since the 2012 season, highlighted by a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes at home in Week 7.

What makes all of that more impressive is the fact that the Ducks did it without some of their best players on the field. Before the Buckeyes matchup, Oregon’s star defensive end Jordan Burch suffered a knee injury in practice, holding him out of the game. A week later, star tight end Terrance Ferguson had to have surgery to remove his appendix, forcing him to miss last week’s matchup against Purdue.

Both players are expected to return to the field this season, but will that be for this weekend’s top-25 matchup against the No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini? Let’s take a look.

Terrance Ferguson injury update

Ferguson was a surprise scratch from the Ducks’ Week 8 game against Purdue, and head coach Dan Lanning revealed after the fact that the senior tight end had undergone surgery to remove his appendix.

“We’re expecting a quick recovery based on what that looks like for him and being smart with him,” Lanning said after the Purdue game. “I think he’ll be back relatively quick, but we want to do what’s best for Terrance.”

How long will Terrance Ferguson be out?

“Relatively quickly” is the key term here when trying to decipher Lanning’s quotes. Does that mean this week against Illinois, or in Week 10 against the Michigan Wolverines?

That’s still yet to be known. I am told by a couple of people within the organization that there is some optimism that Ferguson can see the field this week against the Illini, but it may be in an emergency fashion. Should the Ducks go up early on Saturday, I wouldn’t expect Ferguson to play.

Oregon Ducks tight end depth chart

If Ferguson is out again on Saturday, the Ducks should be able to manage with Kenyon Sadiq and Patrick Herbert splitting reps at the TE spot. We saw last week what Sadiq could do in an elevated role, and it was impressive.

You never want to lose someone as talented as Ferguson, but Oregon has the depth to make up for it at tight end.

Jordan Burch injury update

Jordan Burch was having a career year in the first six weeks for Oregon, propelling his name up NFL Draft boards quickly. Unfortunately, he went down with a knee injury in practice a couple of days before the Ducks’ game against Ohio State.

Fortunately, the Ducks were able to get past the Buckeyes without him. Now it’s a matter of when the star defender can get back on the field.

“We’ll wait as the season goes and as the week goes to see where those guys (Burch, Ferguson, and Matthew Bedford) are at and if they are available for us,” Lanning said.

How long will Jordan Burch be out?

If I had to guess, Ferguson returns to the field sooner than Burch. I think that Oregon is in a good enough spot on defense that they don’t need Burch back right away to keep their winning ways going.

I am told that it will likely be a few weeks before Burch returns, likely sometime in November. He is progressing quickly in his recovery and is ahead of schedule, per someone with knowledge of the situation, but don’t expect to see him this week against Illinois.

Oregon Ducks defensive end depth chart

With Burch out, we have truly seen the breakout that was expected for sophomore defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei.

Uiagalelei was having a really solid year to start the season, coming off of his impressive freshman season, but in the starting role in place of Burch, he has been outstanding, with 8 tackles, 4 TFL, and 2 sacks in the last two games.

This is part of the reason that Oregon isn’t in a position to rush Burch back onto the field — they have some great talent and depth at the position.

Other Oregon Injuries to Know

  • Matthew Bedford — Knee — Out
  • Jahlil Florence — Leg — Out
  • Dave Iuli — Foot — Out 
  • Gary Bryant Jr. — Unspecified — Questionable
  • Kyler Kasper — Leg — Out
  • Jack Ressler — Unspecified — Questionable
  • Fox Crader — Unspecified — Questionable 
  • My’Keil Gardner — Foot — Doubtful 
  • Dakoda Fields — Knee — Out 

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Dan Lanning offers injury updates on Jordan Burch, Terrance Ferguson and Matthew Bedford

Will Jordan Burch and Terrance Ferguson play this week? Oregon coach Dan Lanning gives an update.

Up until now, the injury news has been quite light for the Oregon Ducks. They were without defensive end Jordan Burch for the Ohio State and Purdue contests, while tight end Terrance Ferguson was out last week.

Thankfully for Oregon, it came out victorious in both games. But the Ducks are significantly better with those two on the field. In his weekly press conference ahead of the Illinois game, Dan Lanning gave an update on if Burch and/or Ferguson will be available to face the Fighting Illini on Saturday.

Terrance Ferguson injury update

Ferguson missed the Purdue game with an illness.

“We’ll wait as the season goes and as the week goes to see where those guys (Burch, Ferguson and Matthew Bedford) are at and if they are available for us,” Lanning said

How long will Ferguson be out?

Lanning said it’s a week-by-week situation.

Oregon tight end depth chart

The Ducks still have Kenyon Sadiq and Patrick Herbert on the roster. Sadiq is thought to be the short-term replacement for Ferguson on the depth chart.

Jordan Burch injury update

Burch has missed the last two games with what is thought to be a minor knee injury.

How long will Burch be out?

Lanning said it’s a week-by-week thing with Burch. He could return this week or it might be a few weeks. We’ll have to wait and see.

Oregon defensive end depth chart

Jamaree Caldwell, A’mauri Washington and Derrick Harmon will most likely receive more playing time. Caldwell has particularly stood out in recent weeks.

Matthew Bedford injury update

The Indiana transfer has been limited in the first half of the season. He has been hampered by a knee injury.

How long will Bedford be out?

Lanning said it’s a day-to-day, week-to-week thing with Bedford.

Oregon offensive line depth chart

The Ducks’ offensive line is getting better as the season goes on. If the former All-Big Ten player gets healthy, it’ll be a big addition to the group.

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Dan Lanning offers injury update on Oregon Ducks TE Terrance Ferguson

In his Monday night press conference, Oregon coach Dan Lanning says tight end Terrance Ferguson will be available to play Friday.

It was a hit no one wanted to see.

But when Terrance Ferguson went over the middle for a pass deep inside UCLA territory, he was knocked silly and missed the majority of the game. That play left Oregon with Patrick Herbert and Kenyon Sadiq to play tight end for the rest of the night.

Although nothing was confirmed, it was assumed Ferguson was suffering from a possible concussion and was kept out for precautionary reasons. Oregon’s offense was OK without him, but having Ferguson on the field makes the Ducks more potent.

According to head coach Dan Lanning, the Ducks will have the services of Ferguson after the tight end was able to fully practice on Monday ahead of the Friday night game with Michigan State.

So far this season, Ferguson has 14 catches for 177 yards, an average of 12.6 yards per catch. He’s also valuable with his blocking abilities in the run game and down the field in certain passing situations.

In short, Oregon is a much better team with him on the field rather than the alternative.

Ferguson, Laloulu makes respective preseason watch lists in 2024

Tight end Terrance Ferguson and center Iapani Laloulu makes respective preseason watch lists for their positions in 2024.

It wouldn’t be a preseason watch list without at least one Oregon Duck on it.

Duck tight end Terrance Ferguson was selected to the preseason watch list for the 2024 John Mackey Award and offensive lineman Iapani Laloulu was named to the watch list for the 2024 Rimington Trophy.

The Mackey Award is presented to the nation’s top tight end, while the Rimington Trophy honors college football’s most outstanding center, which Laloulu will be playing for Oregon for the first time this season.

Ferguson enters 2024 with 91 career receptions, tied for fourth-most all-time by an Oregon tight end and just 33 away from the program record of 124 that was set by Ed Dickson. Ferguson’s 13 career touchdown receptions are tied for third-most by an Ducks tight end, and he is just two back of the program record of  Josh Wilcox’s 15.

The current tight end was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection in 2023, tying for the second-most receptions in a season with a career-high 42. He racked up 414 receiving yards and six touchdowns, tied for sixth-most among all FBS tight ends. Five of Ferguson’s six touchdowns came in the final six games, including a pair of TD grabs in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Washington.

Georgia’s Brock Bowers won last year’s Mackey Award for the second time.

Laloulu, known as Poncho to his teammates, is expected to take over as Oregon’s starting center following the departure of Jackson Powers-Johnson, who in 2023 became the first Duck and first Pac-12 player to win the Rimington Trophy. Laloulu was a 247Sports true freshman all-American while playing in all 14 games for the Ducks.

He made his first career start at center in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Liberty. Showing his versatility, Laloulu played 413 total snaps as a freshman, including 183 at right guard, 116 at left guard and 111 at center, while helping the Ducks lead the nation with just five sacks allowed.

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Kenyon Sadiq prepares for breakout season with expectations skyrocketing quickly

Sophomore tight end Kenyon Sadiq is facing some massive expectations with the Oregon Ducks going into the 2024 season.

Kenyon Sadiq was probably minding his own business a couple of weeks ago, enjoying the last few free days before Oregon Ducks fall camp began.

Anticipation for the upcoming year was high, but nothing out of the ordinary for a former blue-chip tight end with a promising athletic ceiling. With Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert still on the roster, Sadiq was expecting a year where he could contribute when his name was called, but continue to grow and prepare to take over as the TE1 in 2025.

And then boom. It happened.

Terrance Ferguson started talking to reporters at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis.

Since then, expectations for Sadiq have skyrocketed.

For those who are unaware of what I’m talking about, go check out this story from 247Sports Erik Skopil, where the Duck Territory reporter talked to Oregon’s star TE about the up-and-coming Sadiq.

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This quote in particular I found notable: “I think Kenyon is going to turn some eyes, especially this year, and the year after that,” Ferguson said. “He has all the tools in the world to be better than me and better than anybody in Oregon history at the tight end position. He has everything it takes.”

So much for that slow transition, huh?

It’s not just Ferguson who is stoking the Sadiq fire. On Thursday after Oregon’s second fall camp practice, offensive coordinator Will Stein did a good bit of work to fan the flames.

“I’m not saying Kenyon is Brock Bowers,” Stein said. “He’s not there yet, but he has all the skills to be a player similar to him, in terms of true tight end play, out of the backfield and flexed. I’m excited about where he’s going.”

Giving that quote to a fanbase that has been starved of any meaningful football for almost nine months is like tossing a New York Strip Steak into a lion’s den.

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While the pseudo-comparison may be lofty, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. While Ferguson’s prediction that Sadiq could be the best tight end in program history may seem inconceivable, it’s also not out of the realm of possibilities.

Only time on the field will tell if these predictions are warranted or not. In the meantime, though, we need to consider how the sophomore will manage the pressure.

“When you’ve got Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert in that room, who are the best leaders on our team, they make sure Kenyon is right and that he’s grounded,” Stein said.

“At the end of the day, they’re just words, so I don’t feel any pressure from it,” Sadiq told me at Oregon’s media day earlier in the week.

They may be just words, but words coming from one of the best tight ends in recent memory to play for the Ducks, and someone who could hold quite a few records at the position once his Oregon career is over. That has to count for something.

“It means a lot coming from a guy like him, a guy that I look up to, a guy that I see every day working hard,” Sadiq said. “He’s done so much for me and I think a big reason for the production that I’m going to have is because of him.”

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How much of that production can we expect in 2024? It’s going to be tough for Sadiq to plant himself atop the TE depth chart with the talent around him at the position. But based on everything we’re hearing from players and coaches, it’s also going to be impossible to keep this kid off of the field.

So can he be better than Terrance Ferguson, comparable to Brock Bowers, and the best TE in program history?

Only time will tell, but if expectations tell us anything, we could be watching an Oregon legend break out in front of our eyes.

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49ers should be watching this offensive playmaker during college football season

A playmaker the #49ers should have their eye on during the college football season.

The 49ers need at offensive tackle will continue to linger into the 2025 draft after it went unaddressed with their 2024 selections. How big that need is will depend on a couple of factors like Trent Williams’ desire to continue playing and Colton McKivitz’s development. Chances are OT will continue to sit atop San Francisco’s list of needs in next year’s draft, but it won’t be the only position they’ll need to address.

Trevor Sikkema at Pro Football Focus identified Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson as an offensive prospect the 49ers should have their eye on during the 2024 college football season.

Ferguson is entering his senior season with the Ducks coming off three productive seasons for them. The 6-6, 255-pound behemoth has hauled in 91 receptions for 946 yards and 13 touchdowns in 41 college games. His production has also gone up in each of his three seasons. The former basketball player could fill a handful of roles in the 49ers’ offense depending on how their roster shakes out next offseason. Via PFF:

Out of fairness to the rest of the NFL, perhaps we shouldn’t give yet another offensive playmaker to the 49ers.

They could look at wide receiver if Brandon Aiyuk is no longer there in 2025, but they did just draft Ricky Pearsall. One player they should keep an eye on is Terrance Ferguson from Oregon, an excellent potential depth piece behind George Kittle.

Ferguson is listed at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds and was a former four-star tight end recruit who also played basketball in high school. He separates well as a receiver (73rd percentile versus single coverage) for a player of his size.

It’s not out of the question that San Francisco could aim for a TE relatively early in next year’s draft. Kittle turns 31 this year and it would behoove the 49ers to start planning for life without him. Even if he’s going to be around for the foreseeable future, however, adding another would still make sense for depth and offensive flexibility.

Even if they do need a tackle we saw this year that they won’t force the pick if they like a playmaker in their draft slot instead.

We’ll keep a close eye on Ferguson this year. He and the Ducks open their schedule at home on Aug. 31 against Idaho.

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5-Star tight end recruit names Oregon in Top 4 schools

Linkon Cure, a 5-star tight end recruit in the class of 2025, named the Oregon Ducks as one of his top four schools on Friday.

Things are heating up for the Oregon Ducks on the recruiting trail. In May, the Ducks coaching staff picked up verbal commitments from two 4-star recruits, and Oregon’s official visit schedule is loading up.

The latest Ducks’ prospect to pop up is Linkon Cure, a 5-star tight end in the class of 2025, who announced his top four schools on Friday, including Oregon. 247Sports ranks Cure as the No. 2 TE in the 2025 class and No. 26 player overall.

Standing at six feet six inches, Cure has an elite catch radius, even at the tight-end position, and at 220 pounds, he doesn’t lack speed. In space, that speed and agility makes Cure a threat after the catch as well.

Cure is from Goodland, Kansas, which explains the Kansas Jayhawks and the Kansas State Wildcats’ inclusion in his top four. Multiple 247Sports recruiting insiders have logged crystal ball predictions for Cure to choose K-State, but nothing is said and done.

Oregon has recruited tight ends in recent cycles, bringing in Kenyon Sadiq in the class of 2023, who has already shown flashes of his talent, and Terrance Ferguson in 2021. Adding Cure — or another quality TE in 2025 — would solidify the Ducks’ tight end for several years.

Spring Position Preview: Veteran experience leads athletic group of tight ends in Eugene

With Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert leading the way, the Oregon Ducks have veterans leading an athletic group of tight ends.

After a couple of long off-season months, the grass is starting to grow and trees are getting ready to bloom. Spring is coming in Eugene, and with it comes the long-awaited return of football for the Oregon Ducks. A lot will look different in this new year for Dan Lanning and his team, with several of last year’s top players moving onto the NFL, including guys like Bo Nix, Troy Franklin, Bucky Irving, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Brandon Dorlus. All of that is not to mention the fact that the Ducks are joining the Big Ten, and have a new-look conference to get used to on top of a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff to strive for. 

It’s safe to say that there are a lot of things to talk about going into this spring season, and a lot of storylines to discuss. To get things started, we want to give a position-by-position breakdown of Oregon’s current roster, getting readers up to date on which players left, which players are returning, and what the overall outlook is going into the spring. 

Already this week, we’ve covered the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Now let’s move onto the tight ends.

A year ago, the Oregon Ducks were in a relatively tough spot at the tight end position. While Terrance Ferguson was returning after a strong sophomore campaign, an injury during spring practices sidelined him for a period of time. The future was a bit unknown as far as Patrick Herbert’s ceiling went, and the transfer of Moliki Matavao left the position group a bit thin.

Fast forward to this year, and the TE position is looking like one of the strongest groups on the Oregon roster, with Ferguson returning for a fourth season that could be filled with broken Oregon records. Behind him, Herbert is looking as healthy and productive as he ever has in his college career, and Kenyon Sadiq is verging on a breakout season, representing the most athleticism we’ve seen from a Ducks’ TE in quite some time.

It’s safe to say that TE coach Drew Mehringer has things going in the right direction. Here’s a complete breakdown of how things stand at the position, and the names and storylines that you need to know.

Former Oregon TE Casey Kelly transfers to East Carolina

Casey Kelly, the one-time Oregon Ducks TE, has transferred to East Carolina.

Casey Kelly, the former Oregon Ducks tight end who entered the transfer portal in December, has finalized his transfer to East Carolina University. 2023 was Kelly’s first and only season with the Ducks, and he finished the year with 5 catches, 43 yards, and 2 TDs.

2024 will be Kelly’s final year of eligibility, so a desire for a bigger role probably drove his decision to transfer. If he stuck with Oregon for his final season, he would’ve had to sit behind Terrance Ferguson, Patrick Herbert, and Kenyon Sadiq.

One of the likely reasons Kelly chose East Carolina is his relationship with their offensive coordinator. John David Baker, the Pirates’ OC, was Kelly’s TE coach at Ole Miss, where Kelly played for three years before his time at Oregon.

The East Carolina Pirates went 2-10 in 2023, so adding transfers like Kelly could make a big impact for them in 2024. ECU’s 2024 recruiting class doesn’t have any blue-chip recruits, but they have plenty of 3-star high school recruits and transfers that could round out their roster.