Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks have gotten off to a hot start. The Ducks are 5-0 and 2-0 in Pac-12 play.

However, the Ducks have been without star running back Noah Whittington since a leg injury suffered against Colorado. On Wednesday, Lanning was asked if he expected Whittington to play again in 2023.

“I don’t think that’s probably going to be the case, no,” said the coach.

Without Whittington, the team will turn to a combination of Bucky Irving and Jordan James. Irving has taken 50 carries for 393 yards and 4 TDs. James has taken 34 carries for 297 yards and 7 TDs.

“The strength in numbers. It’s the same thing we’ve said all year. The more guys you have that can play winning football, the better that is for us,” explained Lanning.

Whittington transferred to the Ducks for the 2022 season after spending the first 2 seasons of his college career at Western Kentucky. For the Ducks in 2022, Whittington collected 779 yards on 139 carries. The back also found the end zone 5 times.

The RB got off to a hot start in 2023, taking 20 carries for 146 yards and 2 TDs. The Ducks have the No. 6 rushing offense in the nation to this point, so it’s up to Irving and James to keep it rolling.