By Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

Dwayne Stanford might be getting his roommate back soon.

Stanford, Oregon’s sophomore receiver, lives in Eugene with tight end Pharaoh Brown, who was injured in the Ducks’ victory at Utah on Saturday. The team, which has a bye this week, held a brief workout Tuesday, after which UO coach Mark Helfrich let players know Brown’s condition has stabilized to the point he might be able to leave Salt Lake City in the next couple of days.

Brown, a native of Lyndhurst, Ohio, could elect to continue his recovery back home in the Cleveland area or in Eugene. “Being here without him has been tough, but I’ve been calling him, talking to him and making sure he’s in good spirits,” Stanford said. “It’s a bummer any time something like this happens, so he’s going through that right now. But I think he’s seeing the bigger picture, and seeing he’s going to have to work to get back – and he’s ready for it.”

Stanford and Brown arrived at Oregon in 2012, and several members of that recruiting class remain particularly tight. That includes defensive end Arik Armstead, who also has spoken with Brown since Saturday night.

Armstead’s older brother Armond attended Saturday’s game, and has visited Brown since. “He said he’s doing a lot better, and happy to hear the surgery and all that stuff went well,” Armstead said. “It was pretty serious at a time.”

Seeing his friend endure such a traumatic injury “has been rough,” Armstead said. “Just trying to support him through what he’s been going through. He’s tough, though, and he’s going to be just fine. He was down a little bit, but (we’re) trying to keep his spirits high and help him through.”

UO assistant athletic director for player development Horace Raymond remained in Salt Lake City with Brown immediately after the game, and associate director of athletic medicine Kim Terrell returned there Monday after intially flying back to Eugene with the team. Members of Brown's family also have been on hand.

Now that Brown’s condition has been stabilized, doctors can address the structural issues of his injury, Helfrich said. Then he’ll begin the road to recovery.

“He’ll embrace that with open arms,” Stanford said. “That’s a guy that works hard, and he loves his craft. He loves to perfect his craft, so he’ll do anything (medical staff) tell him to do and work hard at it.”

Added Armstead : “I’m sure he’s going to listen to whatever doctors have planned for him. He’s a strong guy, so I don’t think it’s going to hinder him much. All we want is him healthy. That’s more important than football. We just want him healthy.”