Lincoln Riley Provides Update on Injured Trojans
USC head coach Lincoln Riley knew questions would be coming after Tuesday’s practice about the Trojans who sat out the most recent game due to injury. So he got ahead of it with a general, blanket update about everyone who missed the game. That includes wide receivers Jordan Addison and Mario Williams, offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees, linebackers Eric Gentry and Ralen Goforth and rush end Korey Foreman.
“I know I’m going to get asked injuries,” Riley said. “We’re doing better. Everybody’s participated, not in a full manner. We’ve got a lot of guys that are making a lot of progress. We have a lot of guys that will be close for the game.”
Addison and Gentry were both injured during the game against Utah on Oct. 15 and did not dress in uniform for USC’s game against Arizona. Addison went through light warmups before the game with the offensive skill players but did not wear cleats. Gentry pedaled an exercise bike for a bit before watching the linebackers warm up, alongside Goforth and Foreman. Vorhees was not on the field while the offensive linemen were going through early warmups. He came out with the full team later, wearing shorts and his uniform top.
Riley said the staff believed they would have Williams available for the game. But after going through warmups, he didn’t feel healthy enough to play.
Any or all would be welcome additions back for a USC team looking to make a strong run through the month of November. Certainly, the Trojans would expect to be able to beat Cal and Colorado the next two weeks without that full contingent. But getting some back might be a prerequisite for beating UCLA and Notre Dame to end the season.
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“My gut feel is we’ll probably end up getting a few of them back, but maybe not all,” Riley said of players returning in time for the game against the Golden Bears this Saturday night. “But very good progress. I don’t know that I’d definitively say anybody’s for sure in…Certainly not in a position to say that anybody’s for sure out right now.”
Replacements Come Up Big for USC
Wide receivers Tahj Washington and Kyle Ford came up big in filling the holes created without Addison and Williams. Both recorded 100-yard receiving days and combined for three touchdown catches.
Redshirt freshman Mason Murphy started at right tackle and played a very strong game. Linebacker Tuasivi Nomura started at middle linebacker for Gentry and had three tackles and a quarterback hurry.
