MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Evan Stewart has not ruled anything out. Now or in the future.

The Oregon receiver, who has missed the whole season due to a torn right patellar tendon, is keeping the door open to returning to the field if the No. 5 Ducks continue in the College Football Playoff.

“I hope, but I couldn’t tell you honestly,” Stewart said in his first public comments since the 2025 Rose Bowl. “It’s just day by day, depending on testing, shoot, we’ll see.”

The senior wide out has a redshirt season available and could also pursue a medical hardship waiver, which would be more difficult to obtain if he did return to the field in the playoffs. But is returning to the field for the first time since the 2024 Big Ten Championship game, against a top 10 opponent in a potential semifinal or national title game truly viable or even worth it? Stewart says yes.

Stewart believes it would show teammates the value of hard work, particularly in a lonely pursuit like recovering from an injury. Internally, it would achieve a measure of respect for Stewart

“I feel like it would prove to myself that I had a major, major injury and I was able to overcome it,” Stewart said. “They know I can’t be out there. but I want to.”

Stewart was listed as a game time decision for Oregon’s first round playoff game against No. 12 seed James Madison and went through pregame warmups at Autzen Stadium in full pads, but changed into street clothes before kickoff. He was ruled out for Thursday’s Orange Bowl against No. 4 Texas Tech on Monday and has not practiced this week.

Dan Lanning said the change Stewart’s designation didn’t indicate a “setback” happened.

“We just like moving Evan up and down so you guys talk about it instead of talking about our team,” Lanning said.

Stewart said “comfortability” was why he was ruled out already for the quarterfinal and his knee was improved enough to “try things” but “not clicking yet.”

Stewart, who began his career at Texas A&M, has 139 career receptions for 1,776 yards and 11 touchdowns. Last season Stewart caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns.

He envisions playing another season in college, but believes he “could” succeed if he entered the NFL draft even without playing for what would be more than 16 months.

“Just off of athletic capabilities, testing, of course,” Stewart said. “If we’re being honest, I do see myself in college for another year. I haven’t really thought about it too much though. But when the time comes, the time comes.”

If Stewart returns to college football, would playing anywhere other than Oregon be possible?

“I don’t know about that one,” he said.

Particularly with Oregon set to return Dakorien Moore and Jeremiah McClellan at receiver and quarterback Dante Moore still deciding what he’ll do, Stewart was and continues to be enticed by the possibilities.

“I still want to play with (Dante Moore),” Stewart said. “If ‘Te coming back, I’m going to be lit, I know that for sure.”

Stewart didn’t have any emotions or know how to feel when he suffered the injury in May. During August, he began to view it as “probably the best thing for me” because it allowed him to recover from injuries that nagged during last season.

It’s been difficult to find silver linings in the most significant injury of his career.

“But hey,” said Stewart, “we coming back great.”

No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs. No. 5 Oregon (12-1)

When: Thursday, January 1Time: 9 a.m. PTWhere: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.TV: ESPNStream: You can watch this game on DIRECTV (free trial) or with Sling (a Sling day pass to watch this game and more is just $4.99). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.