Oregon State junior quarterback Jake Luton has been diagnosed with a thoracic spine fracture, the school confirmed Monday.

OSU defined Luton's recovery time as "week-to-week."

Thoracic vertebrae make up the middle section of the spine in the area around the ribcage. According to the UCLA Spine Center, the thoracic spine is more stable than the cervical or lumbar spine because of support afforded by the ribs and sternum and surgery is not necessarily required following a vertebrae fracture.

The 6-foot-7 starter and junior college transfer was carted off the field on a stretcher Saturday with 11:40 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Beavers' 52-23 loss at Washington State.

Luton scrambled for a nine-yard gain but stayed motionless on the turf for several minutes after Cougars safety Jalen Thompson collided with him to make the tackle. Thompson led with his right shoulder and made forceful contact with Luton's upper torso as the quarterback fell to the ground.

Luton was discharged from a nearby hospital later that night, was able to walk out of the hospital, according to his grandfather, Steve Williams, and returned home with the team.

Luton has thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions in four games, completing 83 of 135 passes (61.5 percent) for 853 yards. He ranks 13th in the conference with a 118.41 quarterback rating and 6.3 yards per attempt.

Senior Darell Garretson will take over as starting quarterback with Luton out. Garretson has appeared in two games this season, entering multiple times in a special offensive package against Portland State and reliving the injured starter Saturday.

Garretson, who started six games last season before suffering a season-ending broken ankle, has nine carries for 44 yards and one touchdown and is 2 of 2 for 20 yards and one touchdown.

Sophomore Conor Blount and freshman Aidan Willard are the two other quarterbacks on the roster. Marcus McMaryion transferred to Fresno State in August after Luton was named the starting quarterback.

OSU (1-3, 0-1 Pac-12) will have a week off to prepare for No. 6 Washington (3-0), a game that will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Reser Stadium.

-- Danny Moran