There are more questions to answer for the Oregon Ducks going forward.
After Monday's news that starting wide receiver Evan Stewart had been arrested for a DUII over the weekend and that any punishment will be handled internally, it's fair to ask what this means for the Ducks as far as the roster goes. First off, it's unclear how much time Stewart will miss going forward, if any at all. Last weekend, he did not play against Nebraska with an injury, so if he is to miss this weekend's game against Illinois, there's no telling whether or not it will be due to injury or a potential suspension. Regardless, it would not come as a surprise to see him miss a second straight game, this time against Illinois on the road.
Oregon has already dealt with injury
woes at the receiver position, with former leading receiver Jeremiah McClellan breaking his foot last month, and Stewart missing the Week 7 game against Nebraska with an undisclosed injury.
Outside of the WR room, we've also seen star tight end Jamari Johnson miss time with an injury as well, while freshman WR Jalen Lott was sidelined for the first several weeks with a hand injury.
So, with Stewart's status up in the air, where do the Ducks go at the wide receiver position? Let's take a look:
The Obvious Answers
Players: Dakorien Moore, Messiah Hampton, Jeremiah McClellan*
Dakorien Moore and Messiah Hampton have proven themselves to be a major part of this passing game, no matter who else is on the field or available to play. Likewise, once Jeremiah McClellan is cleared to play again after his foot injury, he will step right back into the rotation and become a focal part of the offense.
Guys Who Need to Step Up
Players: Jalen Lott, Gatlin Bair
Fortunately for the Ducks, this WR room is deep and talented. There aren't many schools in the nation that can face the loss of one 5-star WR and turn to a pair of true freshmen 5-star WRs looking for help. Oregon is in that situation, and it will be interesting to see how Jalen Lott and Gatlin Bair step up in this scenario. Lott had his biggest game of the season against Nebraska, hauling in three passes for 23 yards, including a massive fourth-down conversion in the 4th quarter. Bair hasn't had a huge impact just yet, but he's seen increased snap and usage rates, and could be called on more going forward.
Under the Radar Options
Players: Iverson Hooks, Hudson Lewis
Is now the time that we finally start to see UAB transfer Iverson Hooks have an impact in the passing game? A lot was made about his addition this offseason, but thus far, we haven't seen much of him, as he has one catch for six yards this season. The way could be paved for him going forward, but it seems more likely that true freshman WR Hudson Lewis takes a step forward. We've seen the coaching staff trust him quite a bit this year, and he had a crucial two-point conversion in the 4th quarter vs. Nebraska on Saturday night. Between these two, my money would be on Lewis to take over a bigger role, but both could be in line to see an increase in usage.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What Oregon Ducks' WR room looks like in wake of Evan Stewart news
