Head coach Mario Cristobal meets with the media every Monday following a game, and today he announced that wide receiver JR Waters and linebacker Adrian Jackson will miss the remainder of the season.

Following the heartbreaking loss in the season-opener to Auburn, this was tough news.

Waters and Jackson Out For the Season

JR Waters

Waters came in as a member of a wide receiver group that featured four, four-star recruits. Mycah Pittman has come in with the most hype, but Waters was viewed as someone who would come in and compete.

That will not be the case, as he will miss the rest of the season. Following last season, the wide receiver position was highly scrutinized. The main reason for that were drops. That was why this group of receivers was so welcome.

With Brendan Schooler and Pittman already out for at least a few more games, depth is needed. However, there’s a chance the team will get Penn State grad transfer Juwan Johnson back this week after he missed the season-opener.

Also notable is Spencer Webb and Daewood Davis being listed as receivers on this week’s organizational chart. Davis has been a receiver but was moved to defensive back this season. Webb is a natural tight end but showed during the season-opener that he can be a threat lined up on the outside.

With Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd flashing against Auburn, the receiver position appears to be in better hands this season than last, making the loss of Waters sustainable. The rough part is it hurts a talented player’s development.

Adrian Jackson

Jackson played in 12 games last season as a true freshman. The former four-star recruit out of Denver compiled 13 tackles, 10 solo, with one tackle for loss last season.

Jackson’s injury was unknown to the media before Saturday, but it became known that he would miss the game early Saturday morning.

Coach Cristobal confirmed the injury, and the severity, earlier today announcing Jackson would miss the season with a foot injury.

If Oregon can stay healthy at outside linebacker, they’ll be fine. They have options with starters La’Mar Winston Jr. and Bryson Young. On top of that, D.J. Johnson has drawn rave reviews for his athleticism but didn’t play on Saturday. That doesn’t even mention freshman Mase Funa, who had a tackle for loss Saturday, and then five-star recruit Kayvon Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux played in a limited role on Saturday, but he possesses the versatility to play with his hand on the ground and to play outside linebacker in a pass-rushing role.

This is less than ideal because linebacker is one of the more thin spots on the roster. However, the linebackers are a little deeper on the outside than on the inside. So, if a season-ending injury was going to happen, they’re more equipped to handle it on the outside.

Jackson’s injury is still tough, though, because he showed flashes as a freshman on special teams and was looking to push for an increased role on the defense this season.

Now, they are one less deep at outside linebacker. Also, one less deep on special teams.