EUGENE - Heralded Oregon freshman running back Thomas Tyner was wheeled out of Tuesday’s practice while wearing a protective boot.

This evening a source close to Tyner told The Oregonian, "He's fine... nothing broken... thank the Lord."

The Ducks practiced at Autzen Stadium with officials and were scheduled to end at 3:30, but around 3:15 Tyner was brought into the Casanova Center on a cart. He entered the building with the aid of crutches, then re-emerged about five minutes later, using the same crutches.

Oregon does not comment on injuries, but after practice coach Mark Helfrich tried to downplay the scene of Tyner in a protective boot and using crutches.

"To my knowledge he is 100 percent,'' Helfrich said. "The protective boot business is a good business. I should have gotten into that business.''

Tyner is a first-team Parade All-American from Aloha High. He was ranked the No. 2 running back in the nation by SI.com after rushing for an Oregon high school record 3.415 yards as a senior. He is also the Oregon state record holder in the 100 meters (10.43).

Helfrich said he recently met with Tyner and told the freshman that he needs to "cut loose" and not worry about making mistakes or being perfect. He said it's typical for a freshman to perform at one of two speeds: slowed down because they are being analytical, or full speed ahead into a wall because they don't know what they are doing.

"He's more on the analytical side of things,'' Helfrich said. "He is getting better every day.''