Tez Johnson injury update: Will Oregon WR return vs. Michigan?

After leaving Oregon’s matchup versus Michigan early in the first quarter, troubling news emerged on wideout Tez Johnson and his status going forward, as he is apparently out for the remainder of the game, according to CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell.

Johnson left the game on the first offensive series for Oregon, apparently favoring his shoulder. He quickly went to the locker room after visiting the sideline injury tent and got further attention.

And while head coach Dan Lanning didn’t offer Dell a concrete update, she relayed during the second quarter that Johnson had emerged from the tunnel in street clothe and was evidently done playing on Saturday.

“He went from the injury tent into the X-ray room then to the locker room without any pads on,” Dell said. “I spoke to Dan Lanning after the quarter, he did not have any update. And guys, just breaking news right now, he just came out in street clothes so he is on the sideline, he is out for the game. From my perspective, he has a collarbone or separated shoulder.”

Oregon led Michigan, 14-7, with around nine minutes until halftime in Ann Arbor, at the time of Dell’s update.

Lanning wanted his team to come out hot in the 3rd quarter

After racing away from Michigan for a 28-10 halftime lead behind a 21-point second quarter, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was still unsatisfied. He called on his team to perform better in the third quarter.

And when CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell posed a question to Lanning about the third quarter, suggesting he’d called it Oregon’s “Achilles heel,” he brushed that notion off. He framed the 15 minutes out of halftime as an opportunity, instead.

“I didn’t say that — third quarter’s our opportunity, right?” Lanning said. “Our opportunity to come out here and play better football. We talk about the middle eight all the time, it’s our chance to go out there and perform.”

But with 28 points in the first half and the only Michigan touchdown coming via a short field on a muffed punt, Lanning didn’t have a ton to be upset about, even if he’s going to push his team for better in the third quarter.

“Really one drive where they had some tough field position and they’ve driven the ball, really proud of the way they’ve performed so far,” Lanning said.