USC vs. Washington State Injury Report: Deontay Burnett probable

Deontay Burnett is on track to play against the Cougars, who will be without a key linebacker. Here’s the injury report ahead of USC vs. Washington State.

UPDATE: While USC’s injury report was looking optimistic for the Washington State trip, a bombshell hit on Friday morning: Starting left tackle Toa Lobendahn did not make the trip to Pullman due to a staph infection, according to Keely Eure of USCFootball.com.

With Lobendahn out, the Trojans will likely turn to backup Clayton Johnston or a true freshman starter on the offensive line like Austin Jackson or Andrew Vorhees.

Jackson has served as Lobendahn’s backup this fall but has not seen significant game time. Vorhees is a backup at right tackle and guard who played extensively for right tackle Chuma Edoga when he went down injured. If the Trojans favor Johnston or Vorhees, the veteran Edoga may be moved across to left tackle with one of the two stepping into the starting lineup.

The report from USCFootball.com also indicated that freshman defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu did not make the trip.

ORIGINAL: Though USC’s injury situation included some major concerns to start week, the Trojans are set to face Washington State with a number of starters back in the lineup.

On Wednesday, head coach Clay Helton reported that receivers Deontay Burnett and Velus Jones participated in practice for the first time this week. Both are now expected to suit up for the Trojans on Saturday.

As USC’s leading receiver and a newly-minted Biletnikoff watch list member, Burnett’s status was of the greatest concern on Monday. Though he will play against Washington State, it is still not clear how much he will be able to contribute.

“I don’t think he’s 100 percent but he looked very capable of helping us in this football game,” Helton said.

USC Injury Report:

• Out for season: K Michael Brown (knee), LB Tayler Katoa (knee), CB Jonathan Lockett (hip), S Isaiah Pola-Mao (shoulder)
• Out: OLB Hunter Echols (hip), TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hip), LT Toa Lobendahn (infection)*, OT Nathan Smith (knee), DL Marlon Tuipulotu (knee)*
• Doubtful: OLB Porter Gustin (toe/bicep), WR Steven Mitchell (groin)
• Questionable: WR Velus Jones Jr. (leg), RB Aca’Cedric Ware (undisclosed)
• Probable: WR Deontay Burnett (shoulder), DL Rasheem Green (ankle), DB Ajene Harris (knee), RB Ronald Jones II (quad/ankle), WR Joseph Lewis (abdominal), OLB Uchenna Nwosu (knee/elbow), WR Michael Pittman (ankle)

*Reportedly

Running back Ronald Jones II missed the Cal game entirely while nickelback Ajene Harris was limited by a knee injury. Both have a full week of practice under their belt and should return to their starting places.

After playing through injuries on Saturday, defensive lineman Rasheem Green and Uchenna Nwosu are also in no danger of missing out this week.

However, the Trojans are unlikely to have wide receiver Steven Mitchell, who did not travel to Berkeley and missed practice this week with a groin injury, or outside linebacker Porter Gustin, who remains sidelined by a broken toe and torn bicep.

As for tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe, the tight end is tentatively scheduled for a return against Notre Dame, three weeks down the line.

Washington State Injury Report:

• Out for season: LB Peyton Pelluer (foot)

If Washington State’s injury report looks decidedly thinner than USC’s, that might simply be a reflection of Cougar head coach Mike Leach’s dislike for talking about injuries.

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While Helton begins each post-practice media scrum with a quick injury update, Leach bristles at questions regarding injuries, threatening reporters this week with being kicked out of his Monday press conference if the topic came up one more time.

Still, even though Leach will not confirm, it appears starting linebacker Peyon Pelluer is out for the season with a broken foot. Pelluer had 21 tackles this season after leading the Cougers with 93 tackles in 2016.

TRENDING: Grading the Trojans Against Cal

With Pelluer out, weakside linebacker Isaac Dotson will move to the middle with redshirt freshman Jahad Woods taking over at the WILL.