No. 4 Oregon has suffered its first significant setback of the 2012 season as preseason All-American safety John Boyett is out for the season, according to Marty James of the Napa Valley Register. 

The report says Boyett is having surgery this week to repair partial tears in both of his patellar tendons. Boyett said in a prepared statement that the injury has been nagging him for some time. 

I’ve had a lingering injury that I played through all last year. The hope was, through different treatments and certain types of rehab during this past offseason, they would heal up and I’d be ready to go for my senior year. But unfortunately, it didn’t work out as planned. I’ve been dealing with a tremendous amount of pain for a long time. At this time, I’m not able to play up to this level that I want to.

Boyett is a senior and this injury will most likely end his playing days for the Ducks, unless if he is granted a NCAA medical hardship waiver before next season. 

The 5'10" defensive back started in Oregon's season opener against Arkansas State and even hauled in an interception, but didn't practice the following week and was left out of Saturday's victory over Fresno State. Now we know why.

Boyett contemplated leaving Eugene early for the NFL draft after his 2011 season, but opted to stay in college. 

The senior was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection after 2011, and the Ducks defense will miss his tackling as he notched a career-high 17 tackles in the Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin. 

Boyett has amassed 10 interceptions in his four seasons (including 2012) with Oregon, and there's no doubt that the Ducks secondary will miss his massive contribution. 

Expect redshirt junior Avery Patterson to fill Boyett's starting spot, as he appeared in all 14 games last season and was the team's fifth-leading tackler with 55 tackles. 

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