Kyler Kasper injury update: Dan Lanning reveals surgery is needed for Oregon WR

The season has come to an end early for Oregon Ducks wide receiver Kyler Kasper. After being listed as out for the season on availability reports, head coach Dan Lanning addressed Kasper’s absence ahead of the game against Rutgers.

Lanning shared that Kasper suffered a foot injury. That injury, in turn, would require season-ending surgery.

“Had an injury to his foot,” Dan Lanning said. “Ended up having surgery on that. So, he won’t be available for us, unfortunately.”

Kyler Kasper initially came to Oregon as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022. A native of Gilbert, Arizona, he was the 159th-ranked player overall and 27th-ranked wide receiver in his recruiting class. Coming out of high school, Charles Power of On3 and Rivals shared his scouting report on Kasper.

“Contested catch specialist with the ability to make eye-catching acrobatic grabs,” Power wrote at the time. “A taller receiver at 6-foot-5, 195 pounds. A bouncy leaper with outstanding ball skills at the catch point. Regularly shows the ability to high-point and box out defenders in jump ball situations. A standout on the 7-on-7 circuit, which favors his skill set. Also an electric dunker and strong high-jumper. Has NFL bloodlines with his father Kevin spending a handful of seasons in the league as a receiver and kick returner. Needs to improve his on-field long speed and separation skills. Was older for the 2023 cycle, turning 18 years-old shortly after his junior season – reclassified to the 2022 cycle in the spring of 2022.”

As a freshman, he would utilize a redshirt. He’s appeared in four games this season, and, unfortunately, this is now the second season in a row that Kasper has suffered a season-ending injury.

This year, Kasper has two receptions for 51 yards. That comes in a career where he has made six catches for 77 yards. That’s an average of 12.8 yards per reception.

Oregon currently has the 52nd-ranked passing offense nationally to this point in the season. That’s on an average of 251.3 passing yards per game. It’s a mark that would be good for 10th in the Big Ten. Dakorien Moore leads the Ducks in receiving with 23 receptions for 335 yards and two touchdowns. Then, Gary Bryant Jr. leads the team in receiving touchdowns, with four. Bryant and Moore are also among the four pass catching options, along with Malik Benson and Kenyon Sadiq, with better than 200 receiving yards this season.

This comes at a point in the season when Oregon suffered its first loss. That came at the hands of Indiana at home. Now, the Ducks are set to get out of town on a cross-country trip to take on Rutgers. That’s a tough road trip that Oregon needs to navigate to avoid suffering a second-straight loss.