Oregon heads into its first road game of the season with a clearer picture on one key injury update: Iverson Hooks is expected to be back this week after tweaking his hamstring in practice in the middle of last week.
Dan Lanning said Monday that Hooks should be available after not being able to go at full strength last week. That is a positive sign for the Ducks as they prepare for Oklahoma State, especially after several players were being monitored coming out of the Boise State opener.
Oregon opened the season with a 34-27 win over Boise State, but the game also brought a few availability questions that carried into the new week. Notably, Dillon Gresham was in street clothes for Saturday's game, and Simeon Price was also sidelined against Boise State.
Lanning has also already given updates on other players with longer-term issues. Earlier this fall, Jalen Lott underwent minor corrective surgery on his hand and was described as likely to be down for a little while. Earlier this year, Tony Cumberland was involved in a car accident, while Gresham's situation remains uncertain after last year's neck injury in fall camp.
What it means for Oregon
For now, the most immediate development is Hooks' expected return. That gives Oregon at least one player trending in the right direction before a tough road test, even if the Ducks are still sorting through the rest of their injury picture.
There was no specific update provided on Dakorien Moore, but Oregon's overall availability outlook appears better than it might have looked during the Boise State week. The Ducks will need that to hold if they want to get through Oklahoma State with their early-season momentum intact.
