CHAPEL HILL-- Darian Durant's season may not be over after all.
North Carolina's starting quarterback broke a bone in his right thumb against Virginia Oct. 19 in what was described at the time as a season-ending injury.
However, Durant surprised coach John Bunting by showing up at practice late last week in uniform and began throwing passes to team trainers with a splint on.
"Some were on a spiral, some looked like a kickoff," Bunting said.
Now, Durant will be at practice this week--without the splint--preparing to play in the season-finale against Duke (2-9, 0-7 ACC).
"He has been re-examined and there's been some discussion that he could possibly play this week," Bunting said Tuesday. "It remains to be seen where he is after Wednesday."
While Durant hasn't taken a hit in more than a month, the sophomore has been involved in the day-to-day meetings with the quarterbacks and offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill--"and his broken bone has healed.
"That's one of the reasons I had him wearing a headset for all these games, so he could stay involved mentally," Bunting said.
"What I like about it the most is he has a great desire to help this football team in this game," Bunting added. "That's extremely honorable and extremely desirable on my part to have a guy like that that would like to play."
Durant was leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense when he was hurt. Since that time, North Carolina (2-9, 0-7) is 0-4 with C.J. Stephens as the starter. The Tar Heels have scored just 33 points.
Bunting made a point to say he wasn't down on Stephens, who has completed 51.3 percent of his passes with four TDs.
"The glass here with C.J. is more than half full--that is for sure," Bunting said. "He's a tough kid and he's been extremely competitive.
"He has a chance to be real good. He has a chance to create more competition at that position. The one thing he lacked was experience. Now he's got some. This young man is going to get better and better."
But it's clear the Tar Heels are a much better team with Durant under center.
"We want to win this football game so we want to go with the guy that gives us the best chance," Bunting said.
That still may not be Durant. Bunting will watch Durant throw on the side Tuesday and judge his form. The coach is also concerned about the center-quarterback snap exchange.
For now, Stephens will run with the first unit in practice, Bunting said.
"It was kind of a lift to see him out there at practice, but this is a team game," Bunting said of Durant's return last Thursday. "It's a tribute to him. He's been at practice every day, he's been on the sideline every game and he's been in meetings. He's into what we're doing. But we have a focus to get to and it's more than a quarterback issue here."
When asked if he would play this weekend Durant said: "I doubt it. It may be too risky."
When told that Bunting had already told reporters that he was cleared by doctors to throw, Durant changed his tune. "We'll have to see, maybe I'll surprise some people."
Durant was 11-of-17 for 151 yards and one touchdown in a 52-17 win over Duke last season--North Carolina's 12th straight victory in the series.
Durant threw for 284 and 417 yards in North Carolina's only two wins this season.
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