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Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. confirmed that he has a broken finger and says it's a game-time decision whether he'll start Saturday against Georgia State.
Vernon told reporters Wednesday that he broke his right index finger in the season opener. It was bothering him in the Ducks' 31-28 loss at now-No. 4 Michigan State last weekend.
Jeff Lockie, Marcus Mariota's backup last season for the Ducks, will start against the Panthers if Adams cannot go.
''I can definitely play with it throughout the season. I played with it this past game, you know,'' Adams said. ''I just gotta keep rehabbing it, keep icing it, make sure the swelling's going down and hopefully it gets to 100 percent as soon as possible.''
Adams' comments ended speculation that had been swirling since before the game against the Spartans. Oregon's coaches do not discuss injuries as a policy.
Adams finished with 309 yards passing against Michigan State, but wore gloves and was seen examining the finger on the sideline during the game. Afterward, the finger was wrapped in a splint.
The No. 12 Ducks (1-1) rallied late with Adams' 15-yard touchdown pass to Byron Marshall with 3:25 remaining. Oregon drove to the Spartans' 33 on its next drive, but Adams overthrew Marshall before he was sacked for a loss of 10, and his pass on fourth-and-16 was incomplete.
''I didn't really feel it during the game. I got a cortisone shot and I couldn't feel it. It felt like I was throwing with four fingers,'' Adams said. ''I got it hit one time in the second half and that's when I started feeling it again.''
Adams said he injured the finger in Oregon's opener, a 61-42 victory over his former school, Eastern Washington. The Eagles' quarterback for the past three seasons transferred to Oregon for his final year of eligibility.
He performed well in his Oregon debut, throwing for 246 yards and two touchdowns before he left the game in the fourth quarter after a scary late hit that left him wobbly. He briefly went to the locker room, but later returned to watch the end of the game from the sideline.
Adams, who arrived in fall camp late because he had to finish a final math class to complete his degree at Eastern Washington, was named Oregon's starter before the opener. Both he and Lockie were vying to take over the job after Mariota's departure for the NFL.
