Michigan will be without one of its top defensive players during a matchup with No. 1 Oregon. 1 Saturday.

Standout cornerback Will Johnson will miss his second consecutive game for the Wolverines with a lower-body injury, according to ESPN Pete Thamel.

Johnson suffered the injury in the first half of Michigan’s 21-7 loss to Illinois on Oct. 19. His time to return to the field is uncertain, according to Thamel.

Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore did not commit to a return date for Johnson, but still expected him to return before the end of the season.

“He’s definitely going to play again this season,” Moore said Monday, via Grant Grubbs by On3.com. “We’ll see how this week goes and what he can do. So we’re letting the doctors deal with that…Will has no plans to shut her down or anything like that.”

After playing a key role in Michigan’s undefeated 2023 campaign that led to a national title, Johnson got off to another strong start in 2024. He recorded 14 tackles and three passes defensed in six games, recovering two fumbles.

Both interceptions were returned for touchdowns.

He was also ranked as the No. 5 player in the 2025 NFL Draft in the most recent big board from Bleacher Report’s NFL Research Department. B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings was impressed with Johnson’s ability to remain effective in coverage despite his larger frame compared to most cornerbacks.

“Will Johnson projects as one of the top cornerbacks in this year’s draft with the potential to be an impact player early in his NFL career,” Giddings wrote in his scouting report. “His combination of size, length, physicality and versatility in coverage make him a valuable asset to any defensive scheme.”

Without Johnson, the rest of the Wolverines secondary will have to go against a Ducks team that holds second best passing offense in the Big Ten to go along with a perfect 8-0 record.

Saturday’s kickoff is at 3:30 pm ET.