By Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

When the two teams for Saturday’s Spring Game broke off for brief practice time together Wednesday, the coaching staff flipped deep into the back pages of the playbook.

On the Team Oregon side, Scott Frost had an ace in the hole he intended to play, and play often. Thus did receiver Bralon Addison, in his return to competition from the knee injury that sidelined him last season, end up not only catching four passes in the Spring Game, but throwing three as well.

A high school quarterback, Addison completed a throw-back to quarterback Taylor Alie for 23 yards in the second quarter. He also had completions of 38 and 10 yards to fellow receiver Darren Carrington, the latter a touchdown as Team Oregon tried to come from behind in its eventual 35-29 loss.

“I still spin the ball a little bit in practice when we run some drills,” Addison said. “I get up there and throw the ball sometimes. When we put in the plays, Coach Frost told me to keep my arm loose. So during warmups today I was trying to throw as many balls as I could without giving anything away.”

Once the Spring Game began, there was no ignoring Addison. As was the case in Oregon’s first scrimmage this spring, he looked as good as new following the knee injury, turning his four receptions into 50 yards and a touchdown.

Team Oregon’s first touchdown came on a two-play, 65-yard drive. The first play was Addison’s throwback to Alie. The second was a 42-yard touchdown catch on which he took a short pass, juked a safety and then raced down the sideline.

“I think we can agree, Bralon’s back,” quarterback Jeff Lockie said later.

Not that there was any question following the long touchdown reception, but Addison said he felt 100 percent Saturday. “I feel like there’s no more hesitation,” Addison said. “Around day two or three (of spring practice), I started feeling it go away. Especially after today, I feel like I can play fully with all confidence and no hesitation.”

That’s good news for an offense that has a few question marks at receiver entering 2015. Devon Allen was injured in the Rose Bowl, and Darren Carrington’s availability is uncertain following a suspension. Sophomore Charles Nelson is now on defense, and perhaps only available to the offense as a part-time player.

The Ducks do return Dwayne Stanford and Byron Marshall, and have Jalen Brown coming off an encouraging redshirt season. Add Addison to the mix, and Oregon should have a strong receiving corps regardless.

“It was real special to be back out there competing with the guys,” Addison said after giving his Spring Game jersey to a member of the armed forces, in keeping with Oregon’s postgame tradition. “Sitting out was hard. I’m just really blessed to be out there in front of the fans, and to play for the troops again.”