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De'Anthony Thomas will play vs. Washington on Saturday.

(Thomas Boyd/Oregonian)

UPDATE: Thomas suited up, dressed, but did not play. He said after, "I'm close."

(JC)

After practice on the following Monday he said he was not close.

(JC)

Oregon running back

will try to play Saturday for the Oregon Ducks against Washington, a UO source has told The Oregonian.

Thomas, who has scored six rushing touchdowns on 42 carries this season, missed the Colorado game last Saturday (ankle sprain). Whether or not Thomas would play for No. 2-ranked Oregon vs. No. 16 Washington has been the

. Thomas hasn't had a rush in nearly a month (vs Tenn. Sept 14).

Ducks coach Mark Helfrich

if Thomas would be available, even for kickoffs.

Helfrich said, "We'll see. We'll see."

Thomas skipped the Colorado game last week, and shed the protective boot several days ago in practice. .

A UO source said Friday: "(Thomas will) give it a try. It's an ankle so you don't really know 'til you know."

I doubt Washington spent the week exhaling and planning for no Thomas. So from a strategy/preparation standpoint, I don't know if this is a game changer. But Thomas' presence alone on the field, in uniform, even lined up as a decoy, is a factor in this game. I've talked multiple times about the explosive Thomas with Washington coach Steve Sarkisian in the last two seasons, and he always marvels at the big-play capability of Oregon's running back.

If Thomas is more than just a decoy, and able to cut and accelerate on the ankle he sprained against Cal on the game's opening kickoff, this is a big, big development for Oregon.

How much difference do you think a (semi)healthy Thomas makes for the Ducks on offense? Special teams? Does his presence alone in uniform make enough of a difference for Oregon to matter?

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