Quarterback might be able to return Sept. 27 vs. WSU
The news on Oregon sophomore quarterback Justin Roper's injured left knee is better than initially expected.Roper suffered a partially torn MCL in the first overtime of Saturday's 32-26 double overtime victory at Purdue. He had an MRI on Sunday and will not require surgery.
"They've ruled him out this week, but only questionable for next week and probable for the following week," coach Mike Bellotti said before Monday's practice.
That means Roper could be available for the Washington State game Sept. 27 in Pullman, but a more likely scenario would have him back Oct. 4 at No. 1 USC.
After the Purdue game, Bellotti's initial assessment was that Roper would be sidelined two to four weeks.
With Roper out for at least Saturday's game against Boise State, and sophomore Nate Costa out for the season with a knee injury, sophomore Jeremiah Masoli or true freshman Chris Harper will move into the starting lineup.
"You'll probably watch the first play of the game on offense and that will be the first time anybody knows who will start," Bellotti said.
As for the practice order?
"It really depends on the play," Bellotti said. "There's a plan to use both, and we'll just continue to do that."
Roper started the first three games and has completed 51.9 percent of his passes for 484 yards and two touchdowns, with four interceptions.
Harper, who has seen action in every game, replaced Roper in the second overtime and had an 8-yard run that set up LeGarrette Blount's game-winning 3-yard touchdown run.
Harper is Oregon's third leading rusher with 102 yards and two touchdowns, and has completed 4 of 6 passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
"I'm just going to try and go out and win these games, manage the game a little bit until we get Rope back in and we'll see what happens," Harper said.
Masoli, who is 16 of 28 for 193 yards and two touchdowns, is farther along in the passing game than Harper. But Harper is a more accomplished runner.
True freshman Darron Thomas moves from the scout team to No. 3 quarterback.
The quarterback shuffling is a familiar scenario for the 17th-ranked Ducks. Last year after season-ending knee injuries to Dennis Dixon and Costa, Brady Leaf started the 11th game at UCLA and went out with an ankle injury in the first quarter. That left No. 4 and No. 5 quarterbacks Cody Kempt and Roper.
Oregon lost that game 16-0 but there is a sense that the Ducks are in better position to handle injuries at quarterback this season.
"They've seen us perform in games before, so it's not like we're unknown," said Masoli, who led City College of San Francisco to the juco national title last year.
"We've still got a running game and the passing game is fine with Jeremiah and Harper," tailback Jeremiah Johnson said. "We should be all right."
Oregon ranks fourth nationally in total offense (562.3 yards per game) and rushing (323.3 ypg).
Bellotti indicated that Roper would not automatically return to the starting lineup.
"It will depend on how we're playing as a team, how the other quarterbacks are doing, and how healthy he is," Bellotti said.
The news on Oregon sophomore quarterback Justin Roper's injured left knee is better than initially expected.Roper suffered a partially torn MCL in the first overtime of Saturday's 32-26 double overtime victory at Purdue. He had an MRI on Sunday and will not require surgery.
"They've ruled him out this week, but only questionable for next week and probable for the following week," coach Mike Bellotti said before Monday's practice.
That means Roper could be available for the Washington State game Sept. 27 in Pullman, but a more likely scenario would have him back Oct. 4 at No. 1 USC.
After the Purdue game, Bellotti's initial assessment was that Roper would be sidelined two to four weeks.
With Roper out for at least Saturday's game against Boise State, and sophomore Nate Costa out for the season with a knee injury, sophomore Jeremiah Masoli or true freshman Chris Harper will move into the starting lineup.
"You'll probably watch the first play of the game on offense and that will be the first time anybody knows who will start," Bellotti said.
As for the practice order?
"It really depends on the play," Bellotti said. "There's a plan to use both, and we'll just continue to do that."
Roper started the first three games and has completed 51.9 percent of his passes for 484 yards and two touchdowns, with four interceptions.
Harper, who has seen action in every game, replaced Roper in the second overtime and had an 8-yard run that set up LeGarrette Blount's game-winning 3-yard touchdown run.
Harper is Oregon's third leading rusher with 102 yards and two touchdowns, and has completed 4 of 6 passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
"I'm just going to try and go out and win these games, manage the game a little bit until we get Rope back in and we'll see what happens," Harper said.
Masoli, who is 16 of 28 for 193 yards and two touchdowns, is farther along in the passing game than Harper. But Harper is a more accomplished runner.
True freshman Darron Thomas moves from the scout team to No. 3 quarterback.
The quarterback shuffling is a familiar scenario for the 17th-ranked Ducks. Last year after season-ending knee injuries to Dennis Dixon and Costa, Brady Leaf started the 11th game at UCLA and went out with an ankle injury in the first quarter. That left No. 4 and No. 5 quarterbacks Cody Kempt and Roper.
Oregon lost that game 16-0 but there is a sense that the Ducks are in better position to handle injuries at quarterback this season.
"They've seen us perform in games before, so it's not like we're unknown," said Masoli, who led City College of San Francisco to the juco national title last year.
"We've still got a running game and the passing game is fine with Jeremiah and Harper," tailback Jeremiah Johnson said. "We should be all right."
Oregon ranks fourth nationally in total offense (562.3 yards per game) and rushing (323.3 ypg).
Bellotti indicated that Roper would not automatically return to the starting lineup.
"It will depend on how we're playing as a team, how the other quarterbacks are doing, and how healthy he is," Bellotti said.
