USC injury report: Michael Pittman suffers high ankle sprain (8/15)

Wide receiver Michael Pittman suffered a high ankle sprain during the Trojans Tuesday practice. Catch up with the USC injury report the 14th practice of fall camp.

It didn’t look good for wide receiver Michael Pittman when he went down awkwardly while facing Jack Jones in the one-on-one period.

The receiver seemed to land on top of Jones, rolling his ankle in the process. He stayed down in noticeably pain while clutching his leg before trainers helped him off the field, putting no pressure on his injured left ankle.

Tended to for some time on the sidelines, Pittman was then carted off the field with his foot in a boot.

After practice, Clay Helton was happy to report that x-rays on that ankle came back negative. That was the good news. The bad news is that Pittman has a high ankle sprain, a reasonably severe one by the look of it.

USC Injury Report:

• Out for camp: LB Tayler Katoa (knee), CB Jonathan Lockett (hip), OT Nathan Smith (knee)
• Out: LB Matt Bayle (undisclosed), TE Josh Falo (knee), CB Jalen Jones (undisclosed), RB Corbin Jountti (undisclosed), LB Bryce Matthews (undisclosed), WR Michael Pittman (ankle), RB James Toland (groin), OL Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring), WR Keyshawn “Pie” Young (hamstring)
• Questionable: DL Brandon Pili (elbow), OL Cole Smith (knee), OL Andrew Voorhees (back)
• Limited: DL Kenny Bigelow (knee), WR Deontay Burnett (ankle), CB Je’Quari Godfrey (knee), TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hip), CB Greg Johnson (shoulder)

Pittman was in line for playing time when USC’s 2017 season kicks off in early September, but he’ll now be in a race against the clock to get back in time for the opener against Western Michigan.

High ankle sprains can sideline a receiver anywhere from three to six weeks. If Pittman is on the short side of that span, he could play a role in USC’s early season games. If his ankle takes longer to heal, he could conceivably miss the first month of the season.

With Pittman sidelined, redshirt freshman Josh Imatorbhebhe and true freshmen like Joseph Lewis and Randall Grimes could step up into greater roles as the Trojans prepare for the first game.

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The Trojans had a rash of other injuries on Tuesday after going largely injury free for the better part of a week.

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Defensive lineman Brandon Pili hurt his elbow, though Helton said he should be fine going forward.

Center Cole Smith was held with some knee soreness while tackle Andrew Voorhees sat out with a sore back.

In positive news, Daniel Imatorbhebhe was in pads for the first time since the start of camp and went through position drills with the tight ends.

Fellow tight end Tyler Petite was also completely back in live play after missing time with a concussion. Safety Marvell Tell, who had been easing back in following a hamstring injury, also went full go during the Trojans live tackling periods.