Evan Stewart Details His Emotions Before Long-Awaited Injury Return

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart is set to make his return to college football after missing the entire 2025 season, and

Stewart participated in Oregon's spring game with a green non-contact jersey as his journey to return to the playing field continued. He warmed up with the Ducks during the team's College Football Playoff run, but he has not played in a college football game since the 2024 regular season. Stewart doesn't seem to be phased from the time off, revealing how he's preparing for game action ahead of the regular season:

"Honestly, I think it feels no different. I mean, yeah, the time says it's been a long time, but as soon as I stepped on the field in the spring, it was really like 'Yeah, I never left.' That's what it felt like. So I mean, just all these practices piling on top of each other and playing good competition. I mean, I feel pretty comfortable. I don't really think I missed out on too much now. It's just football at the end of the day," Stewart said on

oregon ducks evan stewart drew mehringer dan lanning dante moore injury recovery big ten wide receiver autzen stadium — Oregon’s Evan Stewart, center, dances to “Shout” during the Oregon Spring Game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene April 25, 2026 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Stewart has had plenty of time on the practice field, but he noted the difference once he was able to take off the green, non-contact jersey that he wore during Oregon's spring game:

"Yeah, for sure. I definitely feel my confidence going up. In the spring, it was more like you know they had me in a green jersey. You know everybody was saying you know he's in a different jersey, but now they took the green jersey off. This fall camp has been very action packed for me for sure. So yeah, just taking on a bigger role and really filling in those shoes has been it's been elite," said Stewart.

Everything Evan Stewart Said

Anticipation of the Regular Season

"I ain't gonna lie, I'm a little bit jittery right now. Just late night sleeps, just thinking about it, waking up, just hoping the day gets closer. I mean, yeah, just counting the days down. Just a blessing to be here, honestly," said Stewart.

On Dan Lanning's Offseason Praise

"It was greatly appreciated, just because I know that as as y'all know, he (Lanning) never answers those type of questions, so it caught me kind of off guard too. When people were telling me I had to go and watch it to make sure that people weren't lying, you know what I'm saying? But yeah, he came up to me. He told me he was like, 'You know, I never did that before.' I was like, 'Yeah, I didn't expect that.' But I appreciate it for sure. So yeah."

What He's Looking Forward to Most

"Just the atmosphere. I just miss being out there with the fans, making that play that you know lifts people up out their seats, and just being a guy that that lifts people out the seats like that's just really what I miss for real. It's just that energy rush whenever you make those plays, and just know you helping and making an impact."

NFL Players Returning to College

"I think I'm with Lanning on that one. I don't really agree with that too much. I think once you play your your years and try to prove yourself. I mean, we all got a limited amount of time, so I mean, once you get that time and you make that decision to go and you think you're good enough to go, you can't can't really turn back on it. That's how I feel, but yeah, that's how I feel on it."

Getting Back to Game Ready

"I honestly don't know. I think, I think I just always like to have fun. I mean, I'm never really too serious because I know. I mean, if you take everything serious, you're gonna miss out on the fun things in life. So I just always try to find the good and the fun and most of the most of the things. 'Cause you gotta think, we play a hard game and we hit, we get hurt, like and it's like we putting our life on the line damn near every single time."

"So it's like, yeah, you gotta have fun with it. And two, most of the time, most athletes don't find that time to relax, and so I mean I try to I try to be that person where you know somebody having a rough day they can look over at me, I'm having fun so it's like, 'Let me just relax a little bit,' so yeah."

On Messiah Hampton

"He's maturing a lot. I mean, I already knew he was kind of gonna be a good player for us in the spring, coming early in winter workouts. Him and Hudson Lewis, they like a dynamic duo. They work together, like they're workhorses for sure. And Messiah just then came in and put down his head and worked every single day, and from my understanding, him and Coach Ross have always had a good relationship, dating back to when he was at Syracuse. So that's definitely been a Coach Ross has been a good good person this year to keep his development going."

Defense vs. Offense in Fall Camp

"A whole lot of back and forth, competing for sure. Some days, I ain't gonna lie. Early on, offense was winning, but lately defense been whooping us. I ain't lying, but it's been it's been good competition. It's been evened out, and it's always nice to have knowing that you have a good offense and a good defense because we can play off each other, and then when you tag in special teams, it's like yeah, got a pretty good team."

Working on Earning His Spot Back

"I think I think one thing that I really honed in on was I am the oldest in the room, and I do have most of the snaps in the room. So it's like, yeah, we're competing for spots, but when we talk about experience, I mean, I had the most experience here. So it's like I just leaned on that and just knowing my understanding of the game and adding on to it, it was a jack of all trades. So I mean, the more value you got, yeah, you can do a lot. So yeah."

Drew Mehringer's Idea Board

"I couldn't tell you what's on that idea board, but I will tell you, Coach Drew really got that. Like he got a big brain. He always spitting out ideas. He's always spitting out new plays. So honestly, on that big board, he might have some unimaginable stuff. I couldn't even. I gotta go look at that."

What He's Seen From Dakorien Moore, Jeremiah McClellan

"For surely with J Mac, I've definitely seen. I mean, I watched J Mac grow up since I got here. He redshirted the year that I showed up, and he was actually on my visit whenever I visited. So I've watched J Mac grow over the years. Last year was a was a big step for J Mac, as we all know, and this year, I mean, it's really just been being a leader slash older guy because I mean he ain't really that old, but you know he he been there he been here for a minute so."

"And then when it gets to Dakorien, Dakorien is just you know being coachable just still growing into his maturity, and he's a dynamic player, as we know. So it's really just honing in on his talents and building every single day is what I've seen, and that's what he's doing."

Chemistry With Dante Moore

"I will say we've been hot for sure. I was talking about him the other day with my pops. I actually I don't think I've had this type of connection with a quarterback in a minute, dating back to high school. Honestly, he throws a very nice ball. He knows he knows what's going on? He's very elusive. He's a gamer, so it's fun. It's fun to play with a guy like him for sure. And this fall camp is like really showed me like what I was missing out on last year. So I can't wait."

Gatlin Bair's Progress

"Gatlin's also another, to go with Messiah. Him and Messiah have definitely been working too. Gatlin's very smart. That's one thing that that definitely helped out him whenever getting back and knocking the rust off. Because I mean, physicality for Gatlin, it was always going to be there. So the mental, the mental that Gatlin's got has definitely helped him and he's definitely stepping up and making plays."

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