EUGENE — Oregon’s receiving corps is without yet another massive piece.
Ducks starting X receiver Juwan Johnson was absent from Wednesday’s practice after leaving Tuesday’s practice early due to an apparent lower-body injury.
The nature and severity of the injury to Johnson, a graduate transfer from Penn State, is not immediately clear.
After practice, which was later moved indoors, wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight said Johnson was held out for precautionary reasons.
UPDATE: Juwan Johnson ‘going to be fine,’ expected to play vs. Auburn
Fellow wide out Lance Wilhoite, a freshman who has been limited with an apparent hamstring injury, was also not present at the start of Oregon’s practice this morning.
Even in the short-term, the absences of Johnson and Wilhoite are the latest blow to a receiving corps that’s seen starting outside/Z receiver Brenden Schooler (right foot), backup slot Mycah Pittman (right shoulder) and backup outside receiver JR Waters (right foot) suffer injuries that will take between four and eight weeks to heal.
With five receivers out this morning, Oregon has only Johnny Johnson III, Jaylon Redd, Bryan Addison, Josh Delgado, J.J. Tucker and Isaah Crocker as healthy scholarship wide outs. Three of those players. Addison, Tucker and Crocker, redshirted last season and Delgado is a true freshman.
Tight end Spencer Webb, who posted a since deleted photo to Instagram Tuesday of himself catching a pass with the caption “Same Team, New Position...,” warmed up in the line with wide receivers.
Tight ends Jake Breeland (unspecified) and Cam McCormick (ankle) remain limited. Defensive end Bryson Young appeared to be coping with a minor ailment and was warming up to the side of the defensive players during stretching.
As was the case Tuesday, several members of the Ducks scout team were wearing blue jerseys with the prominent numbers of Auburn’s starters as Oregon shifts to preparing for the season opener.