Oregon quarterback out with knee injury

EUGENE, Ore., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Torn left knee ligaments and a subsequent surgery have sidelined Oregon quarterback Nate Costa for the 2008 season.

In a release on the Pac-10 school's Web site this week, Oregon officials said the Hilmar, Calif., redshirt sophomore suffered the injury in an Aug. 20 practice during a non-contact drill.

He was the Ducks' first team signal-caller when fall drills started earlier this month.

Last season, the Ducks were No. 2 in the nation when they lost star quarterback Dennis Dixon for the season to a similar injury on Nov. 15 against Arizona.

They finished with a three-game losing streak after an 8-1 start.

The Portland Oregonian reported that a second torn ligament was discovered by doctors on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-1 inch, 220-pound Costa sustained a torn ligament in the same knee last October and it originally was injured in high school.

270-pound sophomore Justin Roper will be Oregon's starter when the Ducks open the 2008 Saturday night against Washington.