Dan Lanning didn’t specify what kept running back Noah Whittington off the field for Oregon during Saturday’s 81-7 win over Portland State, but he did hint at an injury.

“I’m not going to talk about anyone who didn’t play,” Lanning said in the postgame presser. “Noah has done everything right for us and he’s doing a good job. We’re just going to be smart with our players.”

Whittington was spotted going through pregame warmups with the team, but he did not see the field for the Ducks.

Oregon ran for 348 yards as a team during its historic 81-point explosion.

Bucky Irving led the way in the box score, but the workload was spread all around the room as Oregon just raced away from the Vikings and provided the coaching staff an opportunity to get younger guys into the game.

Whittington wasn’t necessarily needed. Irving finished with 119 yards and two scores, but on just four carries. Jordan James had 10 runs. Dante Dowdell and Jayden Limar each had eight carries.

The Ducks set a program record for points in a single game in the modern era. Next week figures to provide a bit more of a test as Oregon visits Texas Tech.

That Whittington was able to go through warmups signals that, if he is battling an injury, he’s close to a return to health.