A.J. out, but could come back for a bowl game
EUGENE, Ore. -- A.J. Tuitele broke his foot during Oregon's loss to California last weekend and will likely sit out six to eight weeks.
Tuitele, a defensive captain, had surgery to insert a pin into his foot on Tuesday.
He was fifth on the team with 21 total tackles. It is believed he broke his foot in the first quarter against the Golden Bears.
Senior linebacker Kwame Agyeman, who has 22 tackles as a reserve, will take over at weakside linebacker. He has played mostly strong and middle linebacker.
"A.J. is our playmaker, we are going to miss him," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.
Also on the injury front, receiver Brian Paysinger had surgery on his knee last Friday and was still doing some range-of-motion activities. He, however, will not return this season.
Paysinger hurt his right knee in practice before the victory over Stanford two weeks ago. He had nine catches this season for a team-high 165 yards.
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^BACKING CAMERON:@ The Ducks have Cameron Colvin's back.
Colvin was the receiver who in the final seconds against California tried to stretch a catch into the end zone. He was hit by Marcus Ezeff, and the loose ball went into the end zone for a touchback and possession for Cal.
That ended Oregon's chances, and Cal won 31-24. As a result, the Golden Bears jumped to No. 3 in the rankings. Oregon dropped, but just slightly, from No. 11 to No. 14.
"It was tough. We played hard," offensive tackle Geoff Schwartz said. "You can't fault him (Colvin) because he was trying to make a play and get in the end zone."
Said quarterback Dennis Dixon: "He was trying to make a play. I don't judge him for nothing."
The Ducks are depending on Colvin to help the after the loss of receiver Brian Paysinger, who is out for the season with a knee injury that required surgery.
"My teammates were picking me up, telling me, 'It's not your fault, we made a lot of errors today as a team.' We're brothers. We win together, we lose together," Colvin said.
Colvin, a senior, was already planning to redeem himself.
"I feel bad for the next (team). I'm not sure who it is, but I feel bad," he said.
The Ducks have a bye this week, before hosting Washington State on Oct. 13.
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^Jonathan Stewart UPDATE:@ Jonathan Stewart was ranked ninth in the nation and atop the Pacific-10 with an average of 124.6 yards a game.
He was ranked sixth nationally with an average of 198.2 yards a game, also tops in the Pac-10.
In the 31-24 loss to California, Jonathan Stewart had 21 carries for 121 yards for the Ducks. It was the first time the Ducks had lost when the tailback has run for 100 or more yards. Oregon was previously 8-0 in those games.
Like the rest of his team, Jonathan Stewart was upset about the loss.
"We made plays in the game that turned the decision into their hands," he said. "It's a team game and we need to get it together."
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^EXTRA POINTS:@ The first BCS standings of the season will be released on Oct. 14 by the National Football Foundation. ... Oregon is among the leaders both in the Pac-10 and nationally in rushing offense, with 278 yards a game (first Pac-10, fourth nationally); total offense, with an average of 528.8 yards a game (first Pac-10, eighth nationally); and scoring offense with 43.6 points a game (first Pac-10, 10th nationally). |