Oregon’s Thurmond done for the year with knee injury

Oregon’s Thurmond done for the year

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon cornerback Walter Thurmond will have surgery on his right knee and miss the rest of his senior season.

Thurmond hurt the knee on the opening kickoff of Saturday’s 42-3 victory over California.

The school said Tuesday that an MRI revealed season-ending surgery was needed.

Thurmond had been included on the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back.

Thurmond had two touchdowns in Oregon’s first three games, returning a punt for a touchdown against Utah and interception for a score against Purdue. His five career touchdowns are more than any other non-offensive player in school history.