Duck offense looking for player to fill Malik Benson deep-threat role

Every football team has that "next man up" mentality. It's just the nature of the sport. Players get hurt, but when they do get hurt, it's a chance for someone else to step up and fill that hole left by the injured player.

Sometimes it works out great. Sometimes it does not.

Fortunately for the 2025 Oregon Ducks , when wide receiver Evan Stewart got hurt and was out for the season, it worked out for the Ducks and Malik Benson . He stepped up and became the deep threat Oregon was lacking when Stewart went down.

Now, Oregon is without Benson, who will be doing his thing on Sundays. The Ducks will be using this spring and practices to find the next deep-ball threat for quarterback Dante Moore to throw to. Head coach Dan Lanning will be watching closely and finding who will step up and be Benson's replacement.

"I mean, that’s what spring ball’s about. We’re going to figure out who can be that deep threat," Lanning said. "But Malik did an unbelievable job here, and I’m really excited for his opportunity at the next level because he certainly deserves it."

The obvious answer is Stewart, who is back completely healthy from last year's leg injury. Lanning said he's going to keep an eye out and let the chips fall where they may. It might be Stewart, but then again, it could very well be someone no one has thought of before. It's a big opportunity for one of those young receivers the Ducks have in camp.

"As the season started, he (Benson) had to become that. People fall into roles and take advantage of roles when they take advantage of opportunities," Lanning said. "So, we’re gonna figure out who takes advantage of the opportunity to press the ball down the field and go attack it like Malik did."

The sooner they find him, the better. What Benson did last season is rare. That chemistry with the quarterback and the trust to throw the ball and just let the receiver run and go get it usually happens in the spring and fall camp.

That time is now.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Duck offense looking for player to fill Malik Benson deep-threat role