AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne's status is uncertain for Saturday's game against Louisiana-Monroe.
Tigers coach Hugh Freeze said Thorne did not practice during the open date last week after injuring his right, throwing shoulder in a loss to Vanderbilt and that it's still not fully healed.
“Not as far along as I had hoped with the shoulder,” Freeze said on Wednesday. “He thinks he's going to be fine. But he was not ready to play (Tuesday) for sure.”
Thorne has passed for 1,825 yards with 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions. But he was benched for Hank Brown after getting picked off four times in a loss to California.
Thorne is backed up by Brown — who was replaced by Thorne after getting picked off three times in the first half against Arkansas — and freshman Walker White. Freeze had been noncommittal earlier in the week when asked about any potential quarterback change for health or performance.
“We’ll see how this week goes with that, and with the others getting reps — and go from there,” he said. "It’s certainly not an indication that I don’t think he’s played pretty solid here as of late. You start thinking big picture.
“That’s not always the easiest thing to do because you love your players, you want what’s best for all of them and what gives us the best chance to win the remaining three games. Obviously we’ll start seeing how his health is first and foremost.”
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Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
LONDON (AP) — Siya Kolisi returned as captain and prop Wilco Louw was picked for his first test match since 2021 as South Africa made 12 changes for the rugby test against under-pressure England on Saturday.
Only forwards Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi were retained on Thursday from the team which defeated Scotland 32-15 on Sunday, meaning Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus changed his entire back division to deal with a six-day turnaround.
Erasmus has averaged 8.5 personnel changes per test in the 11 matches since the Boks' opening test in 2024, against Wales in June. That was also at Twickenham, where Saturday's match is staged.
Kolisi reclaimed the armband from Etzebeth, while Louw — a late injury call-up for the tour — was back for the first time since a behind-closed-doors test against Argentina during the pandemic.
Erasmus went with a 5-3 split in favor of the forwards on the bench, unlike a 7-1 against the Scots.
England, which has lost its last four matches and was beaten by the Boks in the Rugby World Cup semifinals last year, made four changes after its 42-37 loss to Australia on Saturday — including a promotion to the starting team for winger Ollie Sleightholme after his two tries off the bench against the Wallabies.
Scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet, fullback Freddie Steward and flanker Sam Underhill were also brought in.
“Test matches against South Africa are always thrilling contests, and I’m sure Saturday will be no exception," England coach Steve Borthwick said.
Lineups:
England: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme, Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Chandler Cunningham-South, George Martin, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George (captain), Ellis Genge. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Tom Roebuck.
South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), RG Snyman, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Scotland's Tom Jordan, holds onto the ball as he is tackled by South Africa's Willie Le Roux during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and South Africa in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
South Africa's Eben Etzebeth, left, and Scotland's Zander Fagerson have an tussle during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and South Africa in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
South Africa's Lukhanyo Am, left is tackled by Scotland's Finn Russell, and Scotland's Pierre Schoeman during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and South Africa in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
