EUGENE -- The Oregon Ducks' will likely be without starting center Hroniss Grasu on Saturday.

At least they have reinforcements coming in.

Oregon tackle Andre Yruretagoyena will return to the field on Saturday for the first time since September, the redshirt junior confirmed on Monday.

"I actually felt really good today, surprisingly," Yruretagoyena said. "I thought it would be a little bit harder, but I didn't get really too tired. ...

"I'm excited, it has been awhile."

It will be Yruretagoyena's first time suiting up since injuring his left leg in Week 2 against Michigan State. After missing eight games, Yruretagoyena returned to practice last week and is "pedal to the metal" this week, according to offensive line coach Steve Greatwood.

Yruretagoyena's return will provide a boost to an Oregon line that suffered yet another injury last week. Grasu was injured late in Oregon's 51-27 win over Utah and will, according to guard Hamani Stevens, miss at least a couple of games. In his stead, either redshirt freshman Doug Brenner or Stevens will handle snaps on a line that hardly resembles the one the Ducks put together on paper before the season.

"There's a lot more mental stuff at center than there is at guard," said Brenner. "Guard is more echoing the center's calls and relaying the new calls to the tackles. I like them both a lot."

Five different lineman have missed games for the Ducks this season, with Tyler Johnstone missing all of them, Yruretagoyena eight, Jake Fisher two, Matt Pierson one and now Grasu's expected offense. Still, with a patchwork line, the Ducks rank 18th in the country in passing yards and 23rd in rushing.

-- Tyson Alger | @tysonalger