Oregon loses QB to broken collarbone

Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert is out “for a while” because of a fractured collarbone, head coach Willie Taggart said Monday.

Taggart also said junior linebacker Kaulana Apelu is out for the season with an ankle fracture.

Herbert, running back Royce Freeman and receiver Dillon Mitchell, all starters, were injured in the first half of the Ducks’ 45-24 victory over Cal on Saturday night. Taggart did not mention the other players by name but said “everyone else is day-today.”

Backup quarterback Taylor Alie left the game in the final quarter, paving the way for thirdstring quarterback Braxton Burmeister to make his first college appearance. The Ducks (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) host No. 11 Washington State (5-0, 2-0) on Saturday.

Taggart did not rule out Herbert’s return this season. Signs point to Troy Williams starting at quarterback when No. 20 Utah hosts Stanford on Saturday, though head coach Kyle Whittingham won’t tip his hand.

Sophomore starter Tyler Huntley was injured in the second quarter of a 30-24 win at Arizona on Sept. 22. Utah held its weekly news conference with Whittingham and three players Monday, and Huntley did not attend. The starting quarterback is normally available at that session, and Williams was in attendance.

Stanford’s Oct. 14 home game against Oregon will begin at 8 p.m. and will be carried on FS1.

UTEP is bringing back former coach Mike Price as its interim head coach, replacing Sean Kugler, who was fired Sunday after an 0-5 start. Price, 71, coached UTEP from 2004 through ’12 and took the Miners to three bowl games.