One week ahead of its matchup with Ohio State, No. 11 Oregon saw its star player, defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, suffer an ankle injury in its season opener against Fresno State.
The injury happened late in the first quarter after Thibodeaux was clipped from behind on a running play. Before the injury, Thibodeaux made Oregon's best defensive play of the game by creating a turnover with a strip sack.
Kayvon Thibodeaux with the MONSTER strip sack
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 4, 2021
pic.twitter.com/jvfGw1mIrJ
Thibodeaux briefly returned to the game in the second quarter but did not return to the field in the second half and was in street clothes wearing a walking boot on the sideline.
Star Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux is in a boot pic.twitter.com/xMOOoPxRpL
— Jason Priestas (@priestas) September 4, 2021
Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said after the game that Thibodeaux suffered an ankle/foot sprain. X-rays came back negative, however, and Cristobal expressed optimism that it would not be a long-term injury.
#Oregon coach Mario Cristobal says star DE Kayvon Thibodeaux sprained his ankle/foot. X-rays negative and Cristobal doesn't think the injury is too serious.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 4, 2021
The 6-foot-5, 258-pound defensive end, who is projected to be one of the top picks in the 2022 NFL draft, had nine sacks for the Ducks in 2019 and three in a seven-game 2020 season, and was expected to present one of the toughest tests of the year for Ohio State's offensive line.
Without Thibodeaux, the Ducks struggled to beat Fresno State, only beating the Bulldogs 31-24 after a 30-yard touchdown run by Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown with 2:57 to play.
Ohio State hosts the Ducks in its home opener next Saturday at noon.
