USC Football Spring Camp: Five Trojans Ruled Out With Injury (3/7)

Head coach Clay Helton announced five players who will sit out USC football spring camp because of injury on Tuesday as the Trojans kicked off practices.

The first day of USC football spring camp featured a number of less familiar faces than normal. Part of that was the many departures who are currently pursuing their NFL futures, but there were an equal number of injured Trojans who didn’t see the field on Tuesday.

Five of those are set to sit out the entirety of camp, Helton announced after practice, including offensive linemenn Toa Lobendahn and Nathan Smith, cornerback Jonathan Lockett and receivers Steven Mitchell and Trevon Sidney.

Lobendahn was out on the practice field snapping for the quarterbacks during 7-on-7 drills, but he will be held out of team work as he continues to rehab his knee from the ACL tear he suffered in September.

Another ACL in need of rehab is Mitchell’s. The receiver also took the field during drills, but did not participate and will not be back at any point this spring.

Smith underwent ACL surgery as well, but his injury came in December so he’s expected to be out significantly longer than Lobendahn or Mitchell.

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Locket also suffered his injury ahead of the Rose Bowl and will remain out for the time being after undergoing hip surgery.

The biggest injury surprise is that of Sidney, who will miss out on the chance to battle for a starting place at wide receiver after undergoing hip surgery of his own this offseason.

USC Injury Report:

• Out for the spring: CB Jonathan Lockett (hip), C Toa Lobendahn (knee), WR Steven Mitchell (knee), OT Nathan Smith (knee), WR Trevon Sidney (hip)
• Out: DL Jacob Daniel (hamstring), RB Dominic Davis (concussion), C Nico Falah (back), LB Porter Gustin (hand)
• Limited: DL Kenny Bigelow (knee), OL Viane Talamaivao (hamstring)

USC was also without a number of players on Tuesday who could be back sometime later this spring.

Defensive lineman Kenny Bigelow, who is on the way back from an ACL injury, will be limited to individual drills throughout camp.

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Fellow defensive lineman Jacob Daniel was held out because of a hamstring problem. A similar tweak saw right guard Viane Talamaivao participate in just half of practice.

Center Nico Falah missed out with a back issue the Trojans want to rest until after spring break in a couple of weeks.

That’s also the timetable for the return of outside linebacker Porter Gustin, who had offseason hand surgery. He needs two more weeks to get back to full speed.

Running back Dominic Davis was out with concussion-like symptoms, so his timetable to return is questionable.

USC will be back to practice at Howard Jones Field on Thursday.