Video emerges of Oregon linebacker DJ Johnson punching fan following Ducks' loss at Oregon State
A video has emerged of Oregon star edge rusher DJ Johnson punching a fan following the Ducks’ 38-34 loss at Oregon State on Saturday.
Johnson, who leads the Ducks with 6.0 sacks this season, was seen striking an Oregon State fan as players were exiting the field.
Johnson was immediately pulled away from the scene by a pair of UO staffers and pulled toward the tunnel that leads to the stadium exit.
At this time, there has not been a statement released by the University of Oregon, or Ducks head coach Dan Lanning.
A 6-foot-4, 270-pound sixth-year senior, Johnson is in his fifth season with the Ducks after beginning his career at Miami.
He spent his first several years in Eugene swapping back and forth between tight end and edge rusher before emerging as Oregon’s most disruptive pass-rusher this season.
In 11 games Johnson has racked up 39 tackles, including 15 solo stops. His 6.0 sacks are 3.5 more than any other player in the program, and his 8.5 tackles for loss are second on the team behind Brandon Dorlus (9.0).
On Saturday, he finished with three tackles.
ESPN currently has Johnson ranked as the No. 171 overall prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Oregon’s loss to the Beavers puts the program’s Pac-12 title hopes in limbo. The Ducks held a 31-17 lead at the start of the fourth quarter and appeared headed for a blowout victory.
But the Beavers ended the game with 21 unanswered points.
Oregon State took a decisive 38-34 lead when Isaiah Newell scored on a six-yard run with 8:11 to go.
Oregon marched down to the Oregon State red zone on its next drive and had a chance to take back the lead. But facing 4th-and-1 at the Oregon State three-yard line, Bo Nix’s pass attempt to Troy Franklin was broken up to force a turnover on downs.
Oregon State finished the game when Deshaun Fenwick burst up the middle on 3rd-and-1 to move the chains, allowing the Beavers to run out the clock.
The Ducks can still reach the conference title game if the No. 12 Washington Huskies lose to rival Washinton State in the Apple Cup on Saturday.
“That’s a hurting locker room right now. I feel for the guys in there,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said following Saturday’s loss. “Ultimately, a lot of moments led to that result. I have to give credit to Coach Smith. His team came out prepared for a whole game. We played about half a game or two-thirds of a game… We weren’t able to stop the run.
“They were more physical than us up front, they took advantage of that. Try to get extra hats down there in the run we weren’t able to be successful there. Credit to them; big win for them and an opportunity to grow for us. Time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work.”
