AutzenZoo Top 5 of 2014: #4, Pharoah Brown Hospitalized After Injury in Utah

The Oregon Ducks went into the game against Utah looking to get a victory, but the cost was high. Oregon won the game but lost three players to injury. Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu would return during the season, but his college career would end in a practice injury. Center Hroniss Grasu was also injured, but vowed he would return sometime during the season. His return may be this week during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Florida State. The biggest, and most gruesome injury was to Tight End Pharoah Brown.

Brown was in the endzone on a Marcus Mariota touchdown run and went down. It appeared that his right leg crumpled beneath him and he was carted off the field. He would be lost for the season. He had surgery and would spend the first part of his recovery in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. However he spent close to a week in the hospital in Salt Lake City before doctors would allow him to be moved.

On Saturday Brown rejoined his teammates in Pasadena and was seen on the sidelines following practice being hugged and giving handshakes according to GoDucks.com – He was on crutches and his knee in a brace. He said he did not have a return date set, and said he was working hard everyday to get back onto the football field.

Our number four story, which is appearing to have a happier ending.

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The Oregon Ducks may have won the game last night against the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City, but the victory in the minds of some, might as well have been a loss. With Marcus Mariota at the helm the team pulled out of Salt Lake for the flight back to Eugene without a key member of the team. Starting Tight End Pharoah Brown remained in Salt Lake hospitalized after a greusome injury that ended his seasonaccording to 247Sports.

Oregon Ducks Head Coach Mark Helfrich confirmed Brown’s season was over in his Sunday Night Press Conference with the media and also said that members of the Oregon Ducks coaching staff remained in Salt Lake City with Brown, who will be there for the better part of this week receiving treatment on his leg/ankle. The team does not discuss injuries, but the injury did not look good.

The injury happened in the second half of the game as Quarterback Marcus Mariota rolled right and ran into the endzone. Brown’s left leg buckled on the replay and he went down. He was on the field for several minutes until a cart came onto the field. Teammates and staff helped him onto the cart. The Oregon Ducks will look to Evan Baylis and Johnny Mundt the rest of the way this season at Tight End.

Oregon also lost two other stars to injury on Saturday night in Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who will likely return for Colorado next week and also Starting Center Hroniss Grasu. His status is unknown, but he was seen on the sideline walking gingerly toward the end of the game.

The Oregon Ducks  have a bye this week as they prepare for Colorado in thirteen days.