Oregon Football: How Loss of Thomas Tyner Impacts Ducks' Playoff Chances

There are injuries, which are a natural part of football, and then there are injuries. The season-ending shoulder surgery to Oregon running back Thomas Tyner, as reported by Aaron Fentress of CSNNW.com, is an injury—emphasis definitely added. 

As Fentress noted, Tyner originally sustained the shoulder injury last season against Washington. "Lingering pain and discomfort" led to the procedure, and per Tyner's father, the junior is expected to recover fully in time for the 2016 season. 

In the meantime, the Ducks lose a productive player who was the team's third-leading rusher in 2014—and second among running backs—with 573 yards and five touchdowns. While Tyner has rarely been the feature back in his two seasons with the Ducks, his loss is nevertheless a tough blow to the offense. 

However, Tyner's absence is both a big deal and capable of being overcome. Those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive. As such, Oregon's hopes of returning to the College Football Playoff may not be in jeopardy solely because of Tyner's injury. 

For one, Royce Freeman, the Pac-12's Freshman Offensive Player of the Year as determined by the coaches, returns. Freeman became one of the most explosive backs anywhere in college football last season by rushing for five touchdowns in the first three games. He would go on to tally 1,365 yards on the ground with 18 touchdowns. 

There's no question Freeman remains a huge part of the Ducks offense in 2015; rather, Tyner's injury is more about who complements and spells Freeman. After all, Tyner stepped in when needed during last season's Rose Bowl against Florida State, leading the team with 124 yards on just 13 carries with a pair of touchdowns. 

The early belief is that senior Byron Marshall will return to his original spot in the backfield. Marshall, a running back in 2012 and '13, moved to receiver last season to offset the season-ending loss of Devon Allen. All Marshall did was lead the team in catches (74) and yards (1,003) and finish second with six touchdowns. 

Once again, Marshall could very well be asked to move positions because of injury. The silver lining? Oregon would have its leading rusher from each of the past two seasons in the backfield. Marshall is a veteran and Freeman is quickly becoming a team leader. 

"We've tried to create situations and opportunities for him to be a leader," Ducks coach Mark Helfrich told Andrew Greif of the Oregonian. "He has a ton of credibility."

Talk about a safety net.  

And assuming Allen is 100 percent healthy again, Oregon's receiving corps is deep enough to absorb Marshall's move back over to running back (at least part time).

Additionally, running back Taj Griffin, who sustained a knee injury in high school, is ready to go for preseason camp.

The wild card for Oregon's playoff chances still remains at quarterback with the upcoming competition between longtime backup Jeff Lockie and Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams Jr. As it relates to the running back depth chart, there are pros and cons to both options. 

Certainly, the running backs won't be asked to take over a game because Oregon doesn't have a legitimate option at quarterback. Lockie knows the offense backwards and forwards. If the Ducks win, it won't be in spite of him. 

On the other hand, even though he's new, Adams gives Oregon another player who can make plays with his feet. Adams' ability to extend and create plays can't be practiced against. That type of ability actually takes some pressure off of the running backs. 

However things shake out for Oregon, the important thing is the Ducks have options. Not everyone else who loses a key player does. There's no minimizing Tyner's loss; he was as dynamic as any player on that offense. And the schedule, which features Michigan State, Arizona State, Stanford and USC, is still daunting. That doesn't change, with or without Tyner. 

But Oregon can overcome this. Its playoff hopes heading into the '15 season are very much alive. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.