USC Injury Report: Aca’Cedric Ware Carted Off With Ankle Injury (11/1)

Running back Aca’Cedric Ware injured his ankle during the Trojans’ Tuesday practice ahead of Oregon. Here’s the latest USC injury report.

USC could be without running back Aca’Cedric Ware against Oregon after the sophomore running back tweaked his ankle during practice on Tuesday.

Ware was already slowed by a knee sprain. Now he’ll contend with the ankle injury which required him to be carted off the practice field.

After practice, head coach Clay Helton indicated that Ware will be monitored as the week progresses to see if he will be good to go by Saturday.

“Ced’s a really tough kid, I wouldn’t be shocked if we pop up and Thursday he’s ready to go,” Helton said.

Helton said the same goes for starting running back Justin Davis, who participated in practice at full speed, but still isn’t able to make cuts or change directions on his sprained ankle.

Davis has missed the last two games since injuring his ankle against Colorado but he is inching closer to a return.

USC Injury Report:

• Out for the season: DT Kenny Bigelow (knee), C Toa Lobendahn (knee), WR Steven Mitchell (knee)
• Out: DL Noah Jefferson (academics/shoulder), CB Jonathan Lockett (hip), RB Vavae Malepeai (shoulder), OLB Jabari Ruffin (suspension)
• Questionable: RB Justin Davis (ankle), OLB Uchenna Nwosu (knee), Aca’Cedric Ware (ankle)
• Probable: CB Adoree’ Jackson (illness), S Leon McQuay III (illness), DL Christian Rector (illness), LB Olajuwon Tucker (hamstring)

With Davis limited and Ware potentially sidelined, USC will rely on Ronald Jones II as the primary running back on Saturday with Dominic Davis taking up the supporting role along with former walk on James Toland IV.

Freshman Vavae Malepeai would be next in line to contribute if the injury situation gets worse at running back, but Helton said he would like to protect his redshirt if possible.

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The bad news on the injury front continued with word that cornerback Jonathan Lockett’s hip injury, which he suffered against Cal on Thursday, is “serious” and will likely keep him out this weekend.

Fellow cornerback Adoree’ Jackson is currently slowed by illness, the same bug which limited safety Leon McQuay III and defensive lineman Christian Rector on Tuesday, but Helton was confident those players will shake it off by Saturday.

Outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu’s status for the weekend is still up in the air, but the junior was able to practice through the pain on Tuesday.

Nwosu’s back up, Olajuwon Tucker, is also dealing with a hamstring tweak from last game, however, he too was able to manage the problem enough to practice.

On the horizon, Helton also updated the status of defensive lineman Noah Jefferson on Tuesday. The big man who has sat out a month while getting back up to speed academically and physically could be back practicing with the Trojans next week.