EUGENE -- Though Oregon is facing the possibility of playing its final two regular-season opponents without the services of its starting center, the Ducks' injury-ridden offensive line could be close to receiving good news at tackle.

Starting left guard Hamani Stevens told The Oregonian on Thursday that starting center Hroniss Grasu, "looks like he'll miss a couple of games. It's obviously a big loss."

Grasu's status is officially day-to-day after suffering an apparent left leg injury in Oregon's 51-27 win against Utah on Saturday, and he was not at Thursday's bye-week workout.

Andre Yruretagoyena was not only at Thursday's practice, but he was "running around for the first time," Stevens said, since suffering an undisclosed leg injury against Michigan State on Sept. 6, a sign that gave confidence to offensive line coach Steve Greatwood, as well, that he might be ready Nov. 22 against Colorado.

"He hasn't gone full (contact) yet but I'm hoping Monday it'll be pedal to the metal," Greatwood said of Yruretagoyena, a junior who has missed eight games. "We'll see what the doctors and trainers have to say but I'm really hoping that he'll be able to rejoin us shortly. It's just the matter of the doctors I think finally giving a thumbs up. I know we're a lot closer than we were a couple weeks ago."

Yruretagoyena could be joined in his return by fellow right tackle Matt Pierson, who hurt his medial collateral ligament against Stanford and was expected to miss at least two weeks.

The No. 3 Ducks (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12, College Football Playoff No. 2) are off this week off with a bye.

If injuries made offensive tackle resemble a revolving door this season, center had been a constant with Grasu. Now redshirt freshman Doug Brenner will take his place.

"He'll be able to fill the role, whatever role is needed of him," Greatwood said. "Like I said we'll see what happens with Hroniss' status but Doug's prepared to go in there and play well and I have full confidence he'll be able to do that if that's the case."

By his own admission, Brenner has come a long way since he arrived on campus from Jesuit High School. Even as he's grown more comfortable at center -- he's also seen time at guard this season -- Brenner has relied on advice from Grasu, Stevens and left tackle Jake Fisher to gain confidence in handling the center's responsibilities, which include calling out signals before the snap to the other linemen and tight ends. Quarterback Marcus Mariota handles each play's "calls" for the running backs and receivers.

"When I first got here it was a very large transition from high school football to learning the Oregon offense and all of our offensive line calls and all of that," Brenner said Thursday. "It's really quite confusing at first and just having Hroniss as a mentor has been extremely valuable to me as far as building confidence making calls."

Brenner is considered one of Oregon's strongest linemen. How he handles the position's nuances is his challenge going forward if Grasu will indeed miss time.

"The kids haven't blinked and that's the attitude we have to continue to have, I mean it truly has been next man up," Greatwood said. "I know we as coaching staff have confidence in every kid that goes out there and we know he's going to do everything in his power to help us win. That's all you can do."

-- Andrew Greif | @andrewgreif

Oregonian reporter Tyson Alger contributed to this report.