Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE
Running back De'Anthony Thomas of the Oregon Ducks could be asked to play on the defensive side of the football against Stanford.
The Oregon Ducks still are on the path to a national championship, but their defense has been decimated by injuries. Oregon is running out of bodies. The Ducks lost Avery Patterson after he tore his ACL in his left knee against Cal. Patterson was starting at free safety for original starting senior free safety John Boyett.
Boyett had knee surgery on both his legs, which ended his season back in September. The Ducks are also missing their backup cornerbacks in Troy Hill and Dior Mathis, both of whom didn't play last week against Cal because of their various injuries.
Could Oregon actually consider offensive star De'Anthony Thomas as a defensive back? Adam Jude of the Oregonian files this report that has Oregon actively pondering the possibility.
With Oregon's defense depleted by injuries, a UO source said Monday that it's possible Thomas will play defensive back when the No. 1 Ducks play host to No. 14 Stanford on Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
"I wouldn't be surprised," the UO source said.
Thomas was actually a top cornerback in high school, as he played both ways.
Oregon will definitely need all hands on deck on defense the rest of the year. The Ducks face Stanford this weekend and will have to try to stop the power on the line, then battle Oregon State in the Civil War, with a Pac-12 title game matchup with either UCLA or USC.
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