Patrick Herbert returns to practice for Oregon Ducks after losing 2021 season to injury
It’s been a long road back to the football field for Oregon tight end Pattrick Herbert.
But after a major knee injury wiped out his 2021 season before it began, Herbert, at long last, was back practicing for the Ducks without any apparent limitations during Tuesday’s spring workout.
Earlier this spring, the sophomore tight end was working with the “limited” group of Oregon players during practice and going through rehab and mobility work. But on Tuesday, he was back with the Ducks’ tight ends going through position drills.
“I think Pat’s been really eager to get back out on the field, so I was excited to see him get some work,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said Tuesday. “It’s so easy when you’re off the field and not able to get in there and be involved to kind of fall out of the circle and focus of what you have to do on the field. We want to get these guys back as quick as possible.”
Herbert, the younger brother of Justin Herbert and a former 4-star recruit in his own right, has had a difficult time with injuries at Oregon. Now in his fourth year with the Ducks, both his 2020 and 2021 seasons were lost due to injury. He played in one game against Nevada in 2019 before utilizing a redshirt.
But it sounds as though Herbert is trending in the right direction health-wise, and he appeared to be moving well while running routes during the portion of Tuesday’s practice that was open to reporters.
Herbert is in the mix for reps with a deep group of Duck tight ends. Spencer Webb, Moliki Matavao, and Terrance Ferguson are all back for the Ducks after contributing in 2021. Cam McCormick is working his way back from an injury as well and was once again seen doing rehab and mobility work doing Tuesday’s practice.
Sophomore Tyler Nanney has also been repping with Oregon’s second and third units.
“I’m excited to see Pat get out there and really pick it up pretty quick,” Lanning said.
