Dan Lanning expects Gary Bryant Jr. back for Pac-12 Championship

Everyone wants to be at 100% come the postseason with a lot on the line at this time of the year. That’s why, when it came to the status of Oregon WR Gary Bryant Jr., Dan Lanning’s update was as positive as it was.

Lanning shared news on Bryant Jr.’s availability for the Pac-12 Championship on Friday during his press conference on Monday. After favoring his right foot following a hit in their win over Oregon State, he says their third-leading receiver should be good to go for the end of the week against Washington in Las Vegas.

“As far as Gary? He’s out there and getting better,” said Lanning. “I think we’ll be in good shape to have him this weekend.”

Bryant Jr. has caught 26 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns this fall in his first season in Eugene after transferring in from USC. He’s well behind pass catchers like Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson but, in total, he’s sixth in catches, third in receiving yards, fourth in reception touchdowns, and second in yards per catch at 14.6.

With him set to be in the fold, Lanning now only feels even better about Oregon’s depth at receiver in general, for their game against the Huskies, and beyond.

“I think we have a really good group in that room and some young guys that could, certainly, be contributing and helping us. We just have some guys that have been playing at a really high level there with them,” said Lanning.

“A couple of the benefits of this game is, now that you’re in postseason play, that it no longer affects redshirt issues as well,” Lanning noted. “That could allow guys to have some more opportunities.”

Lanning provides updates on Jahlil Florence, Rodrick Pleasant

The Ducks are dealing with a few notable injury concerns ahead of the Pac-12 Championship.

Starting CB Jahlil Florence and freshman CB Rodrick Pleasant both missed out on last week’s 31-7 win over Oregon State due to injury. When asked about the respective health statuses of Florence and Pleasant on Monday, Lanning sounded less certain.

“I’m expecting us to have some of those guys back,” Lanning said. “We’ll have to wait and see as the week progresses. That’s kind of the way it goes at this point of the season.”

Florence has been a key figure for the Ducks’ defense in 2023. The true sophomore took hold of a starting job opposite Khyree Jackson early in the year and has played 392 snaps — the eighth-most among all Oregon defenders. In 11 games, Florence has recorded 27.0 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception, and one sack. According to Pro Football Focus, he has been targeted in coverage 38 times and surrendered 24 receptions.

Florence did not participate in the open portions of practice last week and was in street clothes during the victory over Oregon State.

Pleasant, a former four-star recruit who was one of Oregon’s top signees in 2023, played meaningful snaps during the Ducks’ wins over Utah and USC and appeared to be carving out a role late in the season. Even so, he has been sidelined with an injury for the past two weeks.

Oregon will hope to be at full power against Washington, which features one of the top receiver rooms in the nation.