Oregon is going into one of its biggest games of the season, and it will play without one of its key players.
Receiver Jeremiah McClellan is out indefinitely after he broke his left foot during the pregame of the Ducks' Week 3 game against Portland State on Friday, Sept. 18, coach Dan Lanning announced.
“Kind of a weird deal," Lanning said on Monday, Sept. 21. "Fortunately, he's a tough guy, and certainly somebody that we relied on and will rely on in the future. So, it's just a matter of when we can be able to get him back.”
It was not revealed exactly how McClellan suffered the injury. He was seen in a boot with crutches during the game.
How Jeremiah McClellan injury affects Oregon
It's a big blow for No. 16 Oregon as McClellan was its top receiver in the first two weeks of the season. He
led the team with seven catches and 170 yards prior to the Portland State game. He was the leading returning receiver after he 38 catches for 557 yards and three touchdowns during his sophomore campaign in 2025.
The injury news comes as Oregon heads to Southern California to face longtime foe No. 12 USC in a pivotal Big Ten showdown that could have College Football Playoff implications.
The Ducks came into the season with one of the top receiving groups in the country with veteran quarterback Dante Moore commanding the offense. McClellan's injury gets rid of one of Moore's favorite targets, but Oregon does have some depth at the position, including Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore. Freshman Messiah Hampton has also emerged as a top target after he had six catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns in the 84-0 win over Portland State.
"(Hampton) stepped in a game where he was going to have a role in that game regardless. But his role grew quick, right? Because right before pregame, you're anticipating (McClellan) being able to go out there, and then Messiah goes out there," Lanning said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeremiah McClellan injury update: Oregon WR broke foot in pregame, out indefinitely
