Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas, who powers the third-highest scoring team in the country, said Wednesday he expects to play Saturday against Colorado.
Thomas suffered a sprained knee in last week’s 41-27 win over Arizona State. He was asked after the Ducks’ practice Wednesday if he will play at Folsom Field.
“I expect to,” he told reporters in Eugene, Ore.
All-America tailback LaMichael James, the nation’s leading rusher with a per-game average of 170.4 yards, carried his shoulder pads and helmet away from Oregon’s practice. But the dislocated elbow that has sidelined him since the Ducks’ Oct. 6 game against California likely won’t allow him to be a starter against the Buffaloes.
Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior, ranks 11th nationally in passing efficiency. He has thrown 17 touchdown passes and three interceptions for a 5-1 team averaging 48.7 points.
Thomas indicated that reports of backup Bryan Bennett taking all the snaps this week aren’t accurate. Oregon practices are closed to the media and Ducks coach Chip Kelly hasn’t indicated who is taking the majority of snaps. But Thomas said, “I’ve been taking them.”
Thomas, who committed to Louisiana State but signed with Oregon, is familiar with Colorado. As a senior at Aldine High School in Houston in 2007, he often watched the Buffs on TV and took a recruiting visit to CU.
“I know Colorado,” Thomas said. “Their environment is very loud. I think we’ll be blown away by how loud it’s going to get. It’s their homecoming.”
If Thomas doesn’t play, he has confidence in Bennett, a redshirt freshman from Encino, Calif.
“Bryan’s a great passer,” Thomas said. “Bryan’s ready to go. He can throw the ball as far as me and harder than me.”
John Henderson: 303-954-1299, jhenderson@denverpost.com,
