2 notable injuries will delay USC debut for talented freshmen

The strong recruiting classes by USC lead to a tremendous amount of excitement regarding the eventual debuts of the highly rated prospects. Unfortunately for the Trojans, two of the freshmen that fans have been particularly eager to watch suit up in the Cardinal and Gold will not be able to take the field against Missouri State.

USCFootball.com's Connor Morrissette has shared that Jahkeem Stewart and Alex Graham will be unavailable for the game against the Bears. In the comment section on X, Morrissette clarified that Stewart is close to being able to play. He had previously been seen on campus with a walking boot. The nature of the report and what has been shared suggests that the defensive tackle is not dealing with a long-term setback. Instead, it appears that he will be able to make his Trojan debut against Georgia Southern in a week.

Graham is someone who is also making strides as a freshman and could potentially see significant snaps on defense. Without further reports, it does seem that the injury is a little more serious in nature compared to that of Stewart's. Still, to this point, coach Lincoln Riley has not revealed anything of a long-term nature being in effect for either freshman.

Chasen Johnson is a game-time decision for the game against Missouri State. The UCF transfer has had a good camp, and coach D'Anton Lynn mentioned how well he has competed in the cornerback room. To not potentially have the option to play him is a missed opportunity, but the extra week could give him enough time to be ready for coach Clay Helton's team.

No need to rush USC players back from injury

With the Trojans being favored to win by multiple touchdowns, this would have been the type of game that would have seen all three mentioned players vying for playing time. By the same token, taking a more cautious approach will allow for the trio to be in a better position for when Georgia Southern comes to town.