USC injury report: Isaiah Pola-Mao out for season (8/22)

Alicia de Artola/Reign of Troy
Alicia de Artola/Reign of Troy /
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Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao will miss the 2017 season to undergo surgery on his injured shoulder. Here’s the USC injury report from mock game week Tuesday.

A second member of USC’s 2017 freshman class is set to miss his debut campaign with the news that Isaiah Pola-Mao will undergo season-ending surgery.

The former four-star safety dislocated his shoulder during the Trojans scrimmage at the Coliseum on Saturday, a problem that was reoccurring.

As a result, the player will go under the knife to fix the issue, head coach Clay Helton revealed after practice on Tuesday.

Pola-Mao will sit out the year, taking a redshirt with an eye on returning fully healthy next year.

USC Injury Report:

  • Out for season: LB Tayler Katoa (knee), CB Jonathan Lockett (hip), S Isaiah Pola-Mao (shoulder)
  • Out: LB Matt Bayle (undisclosed),  OLB Hunter Echols (hip), WR Michael Pittman (ankle), OL Cole Smith (knee), OT Nathan Smith (knee)
  • Questionable: OL Viane Talamaivao (foot)
  • Limited: TE Josh Falo (knee), CB Je’Quari Godfrey (knee), TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hip), OL Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring), WR Keyshawn “Pie” Young (hamstring)

On top of Pola-Mao, the Trojans will be without freshman outside linebacker Hunter Echols for the forseeable future.

Echols underwent successful surgery to clear up an infection in his hip, but the recovery time will likely keep him out six to eight weeks. At that stage, the Trojans will get a look at his progress, but it seems more than likely that he will also be forced into a redshirt.

USC’s senior class also had a small injury scare as Viane Talamaivao left practice with a foot injury. Helton reported that precautionary x-rays came back negative, so the senior lineman should be back within a couple days.

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There was some positive injury news from Tuesday as well.

Tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe was able to go through half a practice of work, including contact drills, as he returns from the hip flexor injury that kept him out most of fall camp.

Freshman tight end Josh Falo also returned after missing two weeks of camp with a bone bruise on his knee.

Other returnees on Tuesday included offensive lineman Andrew Voorhees, who had sat out several practices with a sore back. Receiver Velus Jones was back on the field as well after missing time with a sore foot.

CHECK OUT: Who Were the Most Exciting, Surprising Trojans of Fall Camp?

Receiver Keyshawn “Pie” Young suited up and was a limited participant for the first time since injuring his hamstring during camp.