Payton Thorne injury update: Latest on Auburn QB's status vs. UL-Monroe

Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne will battle through an injury and start Saturday for the Tigers, according to Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson.

“Auburn QB Payton Thorne will start today, per AU Sports Network,” Hokanson wrote on Twitter. “I’m told he practiced on Tuesday and Wednesday, and while not fully 100 percent, took all the QB1 reps this week.”

Thorne is now in his second season at Auburn and his sixth overall season of college football. He has completed 62.9 percent of his passes this season for 1,825 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He has also previously been benched for backup Hank Brown this season.

Payton Thorne slated to start for Auburn

“Payton has played solid,” head coach Hugh Freeze said. “Now, he was not able to practice last week with the shoulder and we’ll see how this week goes with that and we’ll see how this week goes with that and with others getting the reps and kind of go from there. But when I say that, it’s certainly not an indication that I don’t think he has played pretty solid here as of late …

“But you start kind of thinking 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, what gives us the best chance to win the remaining three games. And, obviously, we’ll start seeing how the health is, first and foremost.”

After some uncertainty, it looks like Thorne is good to go.

“I think if I would have really need to play last week, I would have been able to,” Thorne said, via Auburn Live. “Got some good treatment on it. Obviously been working every day to get it back to normal. Feeling good, a lot better than last week.”

Auburn takes on Louisiana-Monroe Saturday afternoon at 12:45 p.m. ET at home.