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Report: Payton Thorne expected to start for Auburn against Louisiana-Monroe
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Report: Payton Thorne expected to start for Auburn against Louisiana-Monroe

After missing practice during Auburn’s bye week due to a shoulder injury, Payton Thorne is expected to start against Louisiana-Monroe, according to a report from 247Sports.

Thorne suffered a throwing shoulder injury during the second half of Auburn’s loss to Vanderbilt on November 2. Asked about Thorne’s progress on Wednesday, Hugh Freeze said Thorne “wasn’t ready to play” during Tuesday’s practice.

“Not as far as I hoped, with the shoulder,” Freeze said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “He thinks he’ll be OK, but he definitely wasn’t ready to play yesterday, that’s for sure.”

Thorne was more optimistic about the game when speaking to reporters Tuesday.

“I’ll be ready to go.” I’m confident in the process we’re going through in the training room,” Thorne said. “Knock on wood, I have yet to miss a match in my career. I don’t plan on doing that anytime soon.

During the bye week and the following Monday, Freeze hinted that the coaching staff was “debating” a change at quarterback for the final three games of the season.

“It certainly doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s playing pretty solidly here,” Freeze said Monday. “But you just start to see the big picture. And that’s not always the easiest thing to do because you love your players, and you want what’s best for all of them and what gives us the best chance of winning the remaining three games.

Thorne said he had not had any conversations with staff about a possible change when asked Tuesday.

Auburn’s next game against ULM is scheduled to tip off at 11:45 Saturday morning.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on @peter_rauterkus or send him an email to [email protected]m