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Oregon football player Evan Stewart was injured before the start of the 2025 season. The hope is that he will be able to suit up by the end of the year.
A recent TikTok video posted by the wide receiver has sparked speculation about the future. Many believe the Ducks have a plan in place surrounding his return to the field.
That supposed scheme could have major impacts on both the 2025 and 2026 college football seasons. Will Stewart play in Eugene next year?
Who is Evan Stewart?
The pass catcher was once a five-star prospect in the 2022 cycle. He was considered to be the top wide receiver in the nation.
Stewart signed with Texas A&M as part of the Aggies’ historic No. 1 recruiting class. He left after his second season, citing NIL unhappiness amid a coaching staff shakeup.
He landed at Oregon in 2024, making an immediate impact in the offensive rotation.
Stewart played in 13 games. He hauled in 48 catches for 613 yards and a career-high five scores. His role was expected to grow this fall. Unfortunately, he was not given the opportunity.
The receiver suffered a torn patellar tendon in the offseason. The timeframe for that recovery is between 6-12 months.
Stewart was injured in June. He is nearing that 6-month mark.
Head coach Dan Lanning is cautiously optimistic on a return to the lineup.
“We’re not going to push it and put him in a bad spot, but I think there’s a chance. He’d love to get back out there. He’d be a great weapon to get back. I’m encouraging him, and his rehab is going well. We’ll see.”
-Dan Lanning
Will Stewart return this year… and next?
Stewart is rehabbing his knee injury. All signs point to that recovery process being ahead of schedule.
Sources have told On3 Sports in recent weeks that Oregon WR Evan Stewart is ahead of schedule recovering from a torn patellar tendon + could be back at some time in November.
There are whispers of a November return. The timing of that potential comeback is intriguing.
Oregon will host Wisconsin in Big Ten football play this weekend. It is on a bye the following Saturday. From there, the Ducks will close the regular season with Iowa, Minnesota, USC, and Washington.
Evan Stewart will not play in Oregon’s next game. It leaves the door for a redshirt open.
It also offers an opportunity to exploit the NCAA rule.
The four-game redshirt policy references the regular season alone. Nothing after the final outing counts. This includes conference championships and the College Football Playoff.
In Stewart’s case, it means the wideout could theoretically play in the team’s last four games and the postseason without a strike against his eligibility.
If all goes well, that could be eight games worth of action – with no penalty – while keeping the opportunity of a return on the table.
The question now is, “Is he ready?” A recent TikTok video suggests he’s close.
Stewart is moving well. While a TikTok dance is far less strenuous than playing a Division I football game, it’s been viewed as a positive sign.
This video is not proof of a fully healthy knee, but even if 100%, there’s no incentive to rush him back to the field. The redshirt would be burned.
The clip has fans talking. Some have taken it as confirmation of Oregon’s plan to exploit the redshirt loophole.
Yeah… you can’t tell me Evan Stewart can’t play this week if Dan [Lanning] really wanted him to…
If that supposed scheme does unfold, Evan Stewart can help the Ducks win a championship this year before returning for a near-$2 million payday in 2026.
At the time of this writing, the wideout’s NIL valuation sits at $1.7 million. Oregon would likely pay the NFL Draft prospect accordingly in order to keep him put.
Of course, this all rests on the Ducks’ ability to make the College Football Playoff. If they can’t, the point is moot as Stewart’s redshirt will be of the typical four-game variety.