Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Oregon cornerback Walter Thurmond will miss the rest of the season due to the knee injury he suffered on the opening kickoff last Saturday against California, the school announced Tuesday.

An MRI on Thurmond’s right knee revealed that surgery will be needed to repair the damage -- the press release didn't specify the type of damage -- forcing the Ducks co-captain to miss the Ducks’ final eight games of the regular season and any potential bowl game.

Senior Willie Glasper replaced Thurmond in the lineup against Cal and likely will start against Washington State on Saturday.

The preseason ESPN.com All-Pac-10 corner played key roles in wins over Purdue and Utah, returning an interception and punt return for touchdowns in those games. A four-year starter, he posted 17 tackles in three games in addition to being ranked second in the Pac-10 and 21st nationally in punt returns (15.0 avg.) and fifth in the league in kickoff returns (27.7 avg.).

Thurmond, who had been included on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, finishes his Oregon career scoring more touchdowns (5) than any other non-offensive player in school history, in addition to equaling a school record with three interception returns for scores, and tied for ninth on the school’s all-time interceptions list (12).