Darron Thomas Video: Watch Ducks Star QB Injure Knee in Victory

The Oregon Ducks missed their Heisman Trophy contending running back at Autzen Stadium last night.

Well, for the first half anyway.

The Ducks were actually trailing in the third quarter without LaMichael James, but things turned around even after they got worse.

Junior quarterback Darron Thomas, who is a threat to make plays with his feet but often leaves the production to his talented cast of teammates in the backfield, left the game in the third quarter. The Ducks then gave up the lead before coach Chip Kelly decided to break out the horses in the running game.

The running back duo of Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas combined to rush for 244 yards and three touchdowns. The team, as a unit, ran for 327 yards on 49 carries.

Thomas' injury came on a 2nd-and-10 run in their own territory.

His knee, which looks like it gets twisted underneath his body, was actually landed on by senior ASU linebacker Colin Parker.

With Thomas out of the game, the Ducks threw the ball only five times. They racked up 269 of their rushing yards in the second half without Thomas under center.

Quarterback Bryan Bennett replaced Thomas and completed only two of those five passes, but he also added 65 of his own yards to the rushing total.

Thomas jogged off to the locker room under his own power and eventually returned to the sideline to watch the remainder of the game alongside the injured LaMichael James. A knee brace was seen on his left knee, but he said he didn't return simply out of precaution.

It is certainly impressive that the Ducks put together this type of performance without their two best players and it has to make coach Chip Kelly happy to know his younger and reserve guys can handle their gigs when needed.

That said, getting James and Thomas back on the field is this team's top priority.

The Ducks are set to play Washington State at home and Washington on the road before traveling to The Farm to take on Stanford.

Expect Oregon to have both James and Thomas back on the field for that game if not sooner.