Sources – Oregon’s Jordan Burch was injured in practice and is unsure if he can play

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Jordan Burch’s status as Oregon’s star defender against Ohio State on Saturday night is in flux after he suffered a lower-body injury during practice on Thursday, sources told ESPN.

Burch suffered a non-contact lower body injury during a practice drill. He was helped off the field and appeared to be in significant pain, sources said.

He is considered the most talented player on Oregon’s defense, a 6-foot-1, 295-pound player who played the best football of his career.

Burch came into the game as one of the most productive defensive linemen in the country, as he had five sacks, seven tackles for loss and four passes deflected. He is Oregon’s leader in sacks and tackles for loss and also recovered a fumble.

He was ranked the fourth-best recruit in the 2020 class by ESPN and attended South Carolina out of high school. He started 13 games for Oregon last year, his first in Eugene after transferring, and showed flashes of talent that fully manifested this season.

Burch’s strong play this season put him in the conversation to be a top-50 prospect in the NFL Draft. Burch is a linchpin of an Oregon unit that ranks No. 10 nationally in total defense and No. 21 in scoring defense.