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Star Oregon RB to miss remainder of 2021 season with injury
Published:
No. 8 Oregon will be without star running back CJ Verdell after the fifth-year junior suffered an apparent lower-leg injury in the third quarter of the Ducks 31-24 overtime loss to Stanford last week.
Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal made the announcement on Thursday that Verdell will miss the remainder of the season, after making comments after the game that the injury was “pretty significant” without disclosing any more details.
BREAKING: Oregon running back CJ Verdell will miss the remainder of the 2021 season. Via @DucksDigest https://t.co/AXHAk2qwy4
— Max Torres (@mtorressports) October 7, 2021
Verdell leads the Ducks rushing attack with 406 yards, 6 touchdowns and 2 receiving touchdowns. Veteran back Travis Dye will need to fill the void left by Verdell’s absence, and he isn’t far behind with 382 yards on 60 carries and 3 touchdowns.
Verdell had scored at least 1 touchdown in every game he played in for the Ducks this season. During Oregon’s 35-28 victory over Ohio State, Verdell ran for 161 yards and scored 3 touchdowns.
Cristobal and the Ducks will have some time to prepare a new scheme with Verdell out of the picture, with an extra week off before the host California on Oct. 15.
Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.