PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) – Through all the questions, Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas held his right arm still, told that was the best way to avoid feeling twinges of pain shooting into his right shoulder.
Backup running back Kenjon Barner woke up Sunday morning at Pullman Regional Hospital instead of back in Eugene with the rest of his teammates.
Getting a little time off could not be arriving at a better moment for No. 2 Oregon.
“I think you need any bye. It’s a pretty good position in the season. I know they plan these things ahead of time but it’s fallen in line and it works for us,” Oregon backup QB Nate Costa said. “I’m happy we have this week off. We’re going to recover, get the guys back who need to get healthy. I’m one of them, get all these nicks and bruises healthy and look forward to UCLA.”
Saturday’s somewhat unimpressive 43-23 win over Washington State vaulted the Ducks to No. 2 in the AP Top 25, behind only Ohio State and just ahead of Boise State. Now Oregon gets 11 days off before hosting UCLA on a Thursday night that kicks off a final six week stretch that still includes USC, California, Arizona and rival Oregon State.
And that break could not be coming at a better time, with a number of nicks to some key Oregon players who could be ready to go when the Bruins come to town. Not that coach Chip Kelly plans on giving anyone a break. The Ducks will practice Tuesday and Wednesday, take Thursday off and then begin preparations for UCLA.
“It’s not an off week from the standpoint we need to practice and we need to improve in every facet of the game,” Kelly said.
The Ducks are 6-0 for the first time since 2002, but that 2002 season provides warnings for Oregon. After beating UCLA 31-30 to improve to 6-0, the Ducks dropped six of their final seven, including a 38-17 loss to Wake Forest in the now defunct Seattle Bowl.
“We’re happy that we came out 6-0 at the halfway point now. We just want to come out next week and be healthy for the second half of the season, come out and try and get better,” Thomas said. “We just have to worry about what we got to worry about, (and) just win out.”
While Thomas should be ready to go against UCLA, no one is quite sure when Barner will be back on the field.
Barner’s injury was a scary moment for everyone, especially when an ambulance was brought on the field and a backboard pulled out. Barner was hit by Washington State’s Anthony Carpenter at full speed on a kickoff return, with Barner crumpling to the turf immediately.
When he finally came to after more than 10 minutes, Barner slowly got to his feet and worked his way over to a stretcher before being taken to the hospital. It’s likely Barner suffered a concussion, although there was no official word from Kelly after the game.
Oregon spokesman Dave Williford said in an e-mail Sunday that Barner had been discharged and was on his way back to Eugene with a team physician.
“I actually wasn’t fearful. I just kind of knew he was eventually going to come to. I didn’t become concerned until it was taking so long,” Oregon running back coach Gary Campbell said. “I noticed he was breathing good and everything but he just wasn’t responding. And then finally he did, he was trying to jump up. Then I was relieved.”
Thomas didn’t play after the second quarter when he fell awkwardly on his right shoulder during a 1-yard run that was brought back by a penalty. He tried to pass on the next play, then became a spectator while Costa showed just how good he is as the Ducks backup.
Costa completed 13 of 15 throws, one of the incompletions being a desperation toss from midfield into the end zone at the end of the first half. He threw for one score and ran for another – an 18-yard dash on the first drive of the second half that gave Oregon a 36-17 lead.
Costa also had a 43-yard run when he was caught at the Cougars 4, and finished with a 84 yards rushing. Not bad for a guy with two major knee surgeries in his Oregon career.
“That’s something you’ve got to have. You have to have two quarterbacks and we know we do have two quarterbacks,” Kelly said. “That may be the difference between us and some other teams right now is we do have depth. You never know when you’re going to get called upon. Nate’s prepared like he’s going to be the starter every week.”
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