Sources: No surgery for injured Ducks WR Johnson
Written by I Dig Sports
Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson's shoulder injury is not a season-ender and he is expected to return to action at some point this year, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Johnson exited No. 1 Oregon's 38-17 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor Saturday and did not return to the game. The fifth-year senior reappeared on the sidelines in the first half wearing street clothes and sporting a sling on his right arm. He finished with only one catch for 11 yards.
This season, Johnson leads all Oregon receivers with 649 yards and eight touchdowns. He has averaged over 10 yards per catch and has been quarterback Dillon Gabriel's top target as the Ducks' offense has become one of the most productive units in the nation. Through eight games, they rank second in SP+.
"I hate it for him, because I love the competitor he is," Gabriel said of Johnson after Saturday's game. "He's a guy who loves the game and is vocal about his passion. He loves the game of football. So it's hard, and you hate it for him."
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning did not provide any details to Johnson's injury after the game. Lanning will hold his weekly press conference Monday night.
Despite Johnson's absence on Saturday, the Ducks' receivers did not miss a beat. Senior Traeshon Holden had the first 100-yard receiving game of his career, finishing with a team-high 149 receiving yards on six catches.
Oregon's offense also boasts three other pass-catchers who have at least 350 receiving yards and are averaging over 10 yards a catch in Holden, Texas A&M transfer Evan Stewart and tight end Terrance Ferguson.
The undefeated Ducks host Maryland (4-4) this weekend.
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