The Oregon Ducks stunned the college football world with a dominant 41-28 win on the road over Ohio State last week, but it came at a serious cost.
Star edge rusher Teitum Tuioti is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Dan Lanning announced during his weekly press conference on Monday night. Tuioti has been an impact player for four seasons with the Ducks and one of the standout defenders along the defensive line this season.
Tuioti racked up 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a team-leading nine tackles for loss this season. The senior pass rusher went down late in Oregon's win in Columbus while defending a large lead over the Buckeyes. Tuioti was carted off the field and later had his left knee wrapped up. Lanning was "praying" for good
news, but unfortunately, Tuioti may have played his last snap with the Ducks.
"Teitum has been unbelievable for us this year, and every year," Lanning said on Monday. "Watching him grow as a player and a person has been a lot of fun. … I don't know if he'll get another chance to play at Oregon, but whoever gets that guy in the future is gonna be really lucky."
Tuioti is a candidate to leave Oregon for the NFL draft this offseason, but he does have the option to return for a fifth season in Eugene, where his father, Tony, serves as Oregon's defensive line coach. In four seasons with the Ducks, Tuioti collected 200 tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks.
Without a vocal leader on the edge of Oregon's defense for the rest of the season, the Ducks will lean on veteran Matayo Uiagalelei as a pass rusher. The senior leads the Ducks with 7.5 sacks this season and worked well in tandem with Tuioti. Nasir Wyatt and Elijah Rushing could also see more snaps in Tuioti's absence.
Oregon is set to host Michigan this Saturday at Autzen Stadium, with kickoff set for 12:30 p.m. PST.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon EDGE Teitum Tuioti out for season with knee injury
