USC vs ASU: Zach Banner Gametime Decision With Ankle Injury

Starting right guard Zach Banner, who has missed practice this week with an ankle injury, is in doubt for USC vs ASU, Clay Helton announced Thursday.

The redshirt senior and captain suffered an ankle injury during USC’s loss to Utah last week, a problem which now threatens to keep him out when the Trojans face the Sun Devils at the Coliseum on Saturday.

Helton designated Banner as a gametime decision with his ankle at 80 percent on Thursday. If Banner cannot go, the Trojans will turn to Jordan Simmons and Chuma Edoga.

Though Edoga started the first two games of the season at left tackle in place of Chad Wheeler, who was limited by plantar fasciitis, he was demoted after being ejected at the start of USC’s win over Utah State.

With Banner limited throughout the week, it was Simmons, a guard, who stepped in for first team reps over Edoga.

More from Reign of Troy

• Markese Stepp enters transfer portal intending to leave USC football
• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

Simmons is a redshirt senior whose career was derailed by knee injuries. As a freshman in 2012 he was USC’s Offensive Service Team Player of the Year. In 2013 he missed half of the season with a knee injury then returned in 2014 only to injury his knee again.

In 2015, Simmons looked ready to get back to 100% and made the switch from offense to defense to help shore up USC’s depth in the trenches. However, he sprained his knee during fall camp and was limited for most of the season.

Returning to the offensive side of the ball this season, Simmons could make the first start of his career on Saturday.

If Banner misses out, this would be the first game since 2013 he was not among the Trojan starters on the offensive line.