Oregon receiver Evan Stewart got picked up early Sunday morning on a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants, according to Portland’s KATU. This isn’t just a tough break for the Ducks, it’s a gut punch for a team already navigating a season that’s been a little up and down.
The Morning After: What Went Down
Stewart, who’s 23, was booked around 7 a.m. PT by Springfield, Oregon police. Court records show he was cited at 5:34 a.m. local time. The official DUII charge is still pending, but the facts are out there. The good news, if you can call it that, is he was released an hour later directly to a teammate, fellow receiver Dakorien Moore. That’s a little bit of a silver lining in a rough situation, having a teammate there.
Oregon athletics put out the usual statement, saying they’re “aware of the incident and are gathering information at this time.” No surprises there, but you know they’re scrambling behind the scenes. What *is* surprising is that this whole thing happened just hours after Oregon’s 17-14 win over Nebraska on Saturday, a game Stewart actually missed due to some undisclosed injury. And for anyone who saw those crazy social media rumors flying around about street racing and multiple arrests involving Oregon players after that Nebraska game? Springfield police confirmed to The Oregonian that those rumors were total bunk. Stewart’s arrest, bad as it is, wasn’t tied to any of that other nonsense.
A Star Player’s Stumble
Evan Stewart isn’t just some guy on the roster, either. This is his third year with the Ducks, and he’s been a major force for them, leading the team with 37 receptions for 352 yards and 4 touchdowns. That kind of production is tough to replace, especially mid-season. What a blow.
He’s had a rough go with injuries before, too, missing all of last season after tearing his right patellar tendon during those infamous spring practices. But when he’s healthy, he’s electric. In his first year at Oregon, after transferring from Texas A&M, Stewart put up serious numbers: 48 catches for 613 yards and 5 TDs. That tweet floating around, “EVAN STEWART TOUCHDOWN LFG,” totally captures the vibe when he’s on the field making plays. This guy is a game-changer when he’s out there.
Now, with this arrest, you gotta wonder what the fallout means for him personally and for the Ducks. Oregon’s got a trip to Illinois coming up this Saturday, and you know the Fighting Illini (3-3 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) are gonna be licking their chops. The Ducks are sitting at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, but this kind of off-field drama, especially involving a key offensive weapon like Stewart, can derail a season fast. Big week ahead for Oregon, for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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