In head coach Mario Cristobal’s weekly injury report, he said that he feels really good as to where quarterback Anthony Brown is in his recovery and should be available for the conference opener against Arizona on Saturday.
Brown was knocked out of the game last week towards the end of the first half and he did not return. Although true freshman Ty Thompson played well, the Ducks don’t want to throw in into action in the middle of the Pac-12 season if they don’t have to.
Despite going 3-0, the injury bug has definitely been a problem. Defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux has only played a quarter as he missed the majority of the season with a sprained ankle. Cristobal said that Thibodeaux is still day-to-day.
Linebackers Mase Funa and Keith Brown are healing nicely and both should be available against the Wildcats to help out the depth situation at that position. Both of those players could have played in the Stony Brook game in an emergency situation, but were held out to get an extra time of rest.
Offensive lineman Steven Jones was also injured against the Seawolves, but he should be back into the rotation this week.
The only player that Cristobal considers “doubtful” is defensive end Bradyn Swinson, who was banged up during the Ohio State win. He didn’t play at all against Stony Brook and it sounds like he will be out for a bit longer than the others.
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