With Vernon Adams nursing a broken index finger on his throwing hand, Oregon has opted to give its starting quarterback a rest.
Backup Jeff Lockie started for the Ducks against Georgia State on Saturday. Oregon's offense didn't miss a beat, easily dispatching GSU, 61-28. Lockie completed 23 of 31 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Lockie was pulled in the fourth quarter and replaced by sophomore Taylor Alie.
Earlier this week, Adams described his availability for Saturday's game as being "a game time decision."
With Oregon's Pac-12 opener slated for next Saturday against Utah, giving Adams time to heal makes sense.
Lockie, a redshirt junior, has logged the bulk of his playing time the past couple of years in relief of 2014 Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans, Marcus Mariota. Lockie appeared in 10 games in 2014, getting much of his playing time in routs of South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Florida State in the Rose Bowl. In 2014, Lockie completed 21 of 28 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. In Oregon's spring game this year, Lockie was lights out, completing all nine passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns. However, he was beaten out by Adams during fall camp.
Adams suffered the broken finger in Oregon's opening weekend win over his former school, Eastern Washington. He then played through the injury in last week's loss to Michigan State. Adams said this week that the finger bothered him late in the Ducks' loss to the Spartans.
Follow Jim Reineking on Twitter @jimreineking.
