Football Practice Report: Oct. 15

Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads

It's unanimous: Oregon's offense suffered a hugely significant loss this past Friday.

The Ducks' 45-3 win over Colorado was the final collegiate appearance for tight end Jacob Breeland, who suffered a season-ending knee injury. And it's not just any season that was ended — according to midseason all-America teams released by nearly a half-dozen media outlets Tuesday, Breeland was the best tight end in the Football Bowl Subdivision so far this fall.

"He put himself in a great position," UO offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said. "We're gonna miss him."

Breeland had 26 receptions during Oregon's 5-1 start to the season, tied for the team lead with Jaylon Redd. His 405 receiving yards were first on the team, and Breeland led all FBS tight ends with six touchdown receptions through six games.

On Tuesday, the Ducks returned to practice in advance of their game at Washington on Saturday (12:30 p.m., ABC). Breeland was on hand for portions of practice, but on crutches, with his leg in a brace.

"It's tough for him; it's tough for all of us," junior tight end Hunter Kampmoyer said. "You don't want to see a friend get hurt like that. It's really unfortunate. But we're here for him."

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The remaining tight ends on the roster need to be there for the UO offense, too, beginning Saturday in Seattle. Both Breeland and 2018 opening game starter Cam McCormick are out for the season with injuries, but the Ducks can't do much to lessen the importance of a position group that plays a critical role in their physical rushing attack.

"It's no different than having six wideouts down at the beginning of the season," Arroyo said. "You've just got to find a way."

The next man up after Breeland's injury Friday, and for the opening reps of practice Tuesday, was Kampmoyer. A converted defensive end, he's a stout blocker in the run game. As a near-miss on a potential touchdown reception in the third quarter Friday showed, Kampmoyer's progress as a receiver is ongoing.

"(QB Justin Herbert) put it on me," Kampmoyer said. "That one was on me. I should have had that."

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Senior Ryan Bay strikes a similar profile to Kampmoyer, as a physical presence at the line who isn't quite the receiving threat Breeland has been. The Ducks do have two young pass-catchers lower on the depth chart, but redshirt freshman Spencer Webb and true freshman Patrick Herbert both lack significant game experience.

Still, the Ducks will have to find a way to replace their injured all-American, Breeland.

"We just need to step up," said Kampmoyer, one of four UO football players already enrolled at graduate school. "Jake going down, it's really unfortunate having a teammate and friend go down like that. But we need to step up. The season's going to continue."

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Practice highlights: The defense was all over the ball in the "turbo" period that kicked off 11-on-11 work. Jordon Scott and Verone McKinley III each got to CJ Verdell near the line of scrimmage to stop him before he got started. … The next time the Ducks went 11-on-11, Alex Forsyth had two different reps on which he got upfield to set blocks for the No. 2 offense; they faced the No. 1 defense, which saw Mase Funa hurry Tyler Shough into an incompletion, and Deommodore Lenoir stop a run play at the line. … With the No. 1 offense facing the No. 2 defense, Herbert connected with Juwan Johnson for a chunk play.

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Other observations: Herbert put on a show in 1-on-1 pass drills. After one deep ball over a defender and into the arms of a receiver, another defensive player exclaimed, "that was a dime." Moments later Herbert rifled a missile that somehow made it through the arms of a defender into a receiver's arms. One defensive back offered a simple explanation for how the pass was possibly completed: "Justin Herbert. That's Justin Herbert." … Taylor Koth took reps in field-goal drills behind starter Camden Lewis. … Head coach Mario Cristobal set the tone for Saturday's game at UW when the linemen gathered for pass-rush drills. "They're physical, and they are tough," Cristobal said. "And we won't want it any other way."

Post-practice interviews:

Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo

Senior offensive lineman Shane Lemieux

Junior tight end Hunter Kampmoyer

Sophomore running back CJ Verdell