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Key Injuries Could Take Their Toll On Oregon Ducks’ College Football Playoff Hopes

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Injuries Could Take Toll On Oregon Ducks

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Oregon Ducks are riding high following a 51-27 victory over the Utah Utes last Saturday vaulted them into second place in the College Football Playoff rankings, but several key injuries sustained in that contest could take their toll on the Ducks and their quest for their first-ever national championship.

The most serious injury was to starting tight end Pharaoh Brown. Brown was carted off the field with a non-contact leg injury late in the game and is out for the remainder of the season. Brown wasn’t the most spectacular playmaker, but he was fourth on the team in receptions and receiving yards and was tied for the team lead with six receiving touchdowns. His loss will likely mean that sophomore Evan Baylis, who only has one career reception, will take over as the starting tight end for the Ducks.

Another key injury sustained by the Ducks was to center Hroniss Grasu, who left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent left leg injury. Grasu has been the starting center for the Ducks since his redshirt freshman season. He was All-Pac-12 First team the past two seasons and was a First-team All-American last season. His loss was immediately visible as backup center Doug Brenner was routinely off with his snaps, either bouncing them back to Marcus Mariota or wide of the mark. An extended absence by Grasu could grind the fast-paced Ducks offense to a halt.

The least serious injury of the bunch was still to one of the key players for the Ducks, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. Ekpre-Olomu injured his toe during the first series against Utah and sat for the rest of the game. He is one of the cornerstones of the Ducks defense and was a First-team All-American last season. He appears to have escaped serious injury, however, as he has stated that he plans to play against the Colorado Buffaloes next weekend following this weekend’s bye.

These injuries could add up to trouble for the Ducks. When Jake Fisher was injured earlier in the season teams were able to get a substantial pass rush against Mariota and sack him more frequently. They will already be down one of their top offensive weapons and touchdown threats for the remainder of the season, and any substantial time missed by Grasu could leave the Ducks coming up frustratingly short of their first national championship once again.

Phillip Jacques is a Pac-12 Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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