Today's top story ... Orton to return
Senior QB Kyle Orton, who sat out this past weekend’s loss at Iowa, could be back in the starting lineup for next Saturday’s home game versus Ohio State, as long as his hip injury allows him to play; Head coach Joe Tiller and the Boilers’ medical staff will evaluate Orton in the early part of this week
Big XII
Kansas
Junior QB Jason Swanson, who took over as the starter last week when sophomore Adam Barmann went down with an apparent season-ending injury, suffered an injury of his own to his right shoulder and will not be able to play in Saturday’s game versus Texas. According to head coach Mark Mangino, the injury could force Swanson to the sideline for the remainder of the season; Senior walk-on John Nielsen becomes the Jayhawks’ new starter
Oklahoma
Despite suffering a dislocated left shoulder during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win over Texas A&M, standout freshman TB Adrian Peterson returned to the game after the medical staff put his shoulder back into place; According to head coach Bob Stoops, Peterson is expected to be able to play in this Saturday’s game versus Nebraska
Oklahoma State
Senior star CB Darrent Williams, who made his return this past Saturday after having missed the previous four games with a broken forearm, may have to miss the final two regular season games, as well; After seeing his first full-contact action since the injury occurred, Williams stated that he was unable to use his arm to tackle, and his best chance of returning would probably be in a bowl game; Junior Daniel McLemore will continue to fill-in during Williams’ absence
SEC
Georgia
Freshman TB Danny Ware suffered a sprain to his right ankle and knee during the first quarter of Saturday’s win over Kentucky, and was held to just three carries for the entire game; Ware’s playing status for this weekend’s conference clash at Auburn probably won’t be determined until later in the week, but at this point he’s questionable
South Carolina
Senior starting QB Dondrial Pinkins, who partially tore his rotator cuff during the Oct. 2 game against Alabama, re-injured the shoulder during the first half of this past weekend’s win over Arkansas; Pinkins will undergo an MRI and will await test results to determine his playing status for this Saturday’s contest at Florida
Tennessee
True freshman starting QB Erik Ainge suffered a separated right shoulder on the final play of the first half during the Vols’ loss to Notre Dame this past Saturday; Ainge is expected to be out anywhere from two-to-four weeks, but season-ending surgery could also be a possibility. In the meantime, the starting QB duties are expected to go to junior Rick Clausen