Lincoln Riley provides latest injury update on Jude Wolfe

For all the hype USC has been getting with their skill position players, the tight end role has not been discussed much. In what should be a solid group for the Trojans, they will be without one of their main contributors — Jude Wolfe –for quite some time.

Head coach Lincoln Riley announced Wolfe will miss the first half of the season, dealing with a foot injury. The tight end was previously in a walking boot but now Riley has confirmed some significant time will go by before Wolfe is back on the field.

“Jude has a foot injury,” Riley said. “He’s going to miss the first part of the season. He’s going to have a procedure done here pretty quick. We’ll get it cleaned up and hopefully have him second half of the season.”

Wolfe has been a contributor over the past few seasons when Clay Helton was still running the program. He will be entering his redshirt junior season, appearing in 19 games but only making one start. Averaging seven yards per reception last year, Wolfe had eight catches for 56 yards.

Riley has some quality depth outside of Wolfe, though. Malcolm Epps is still with the program, while Lake McRee is expected to be the main guy. Plenty of talented players will be available for quarterback Caleb Williams come the season opener on Sept. 3. Williams will get Wolfe back in the latter half of the year.

Riley reveals initial thoughts on Jude Wolfe, other injured USC players

Riley recently provided an injury update on several players who joined the non-participation group at practice over the weekend. Gary Bryant Jr., Bryson Shaw, Carson Tabaracci, and Wolfe were some of the injured Trojans at practice on Monday, but aside from Wolfe who is in a walking boot, Riley described the injuries as “nothing serious.”

“Jude’s in a boot, got a little foot issue, we’re going to come take a look at it and see how it goes. He’s been practicing well this camp, so hopefully not long-term,” Riley said. “Everybody else, we’ve had a couple of nicks and bruises, nothing serious for anybody else, including Gary.”

Riley also addressed the absence of former five-star defensive lineman Korey Foreman on Tuesday. He revealed that Foreman had an unavoidable previous engagement, not an injury.