USC Injury Report: Viane Talamaivao out for season (10/4)

Viane Talamaivao’s pectoral injury will require season-ending surgery, also ending the lineman’s Trojan career. Here’s the USC injury report for Oct. 4.

USC received some unfortunate injury news on Wednesday as starting right guard Viane Talamaivao will miss the remainder of the season due to a pectoral injury.

The senior lineman suffered the injury against Washington State. Since it will require surgery, Talamaivao’s season, and USC career is now over.

“Viane has been a rock to us for four years,” head coach Clay Helton said. “Very much a leader, near and dear to all our hearts and has been a true Trojan. Love him to death.”

USC Injury Report:

• Out for season: K Michael Brown (knee), CB Greg Johnson (shoulder), LB Tayler Katoa (knee), CB Jonathan Lockett (hip), S Isaiah Pola-Mao (shoulder), OL Viane Talamaivao (pectoral)
• Out: OLB Hunter Echols (hip), TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hip), OT Nathan Smith (knee)
• Questionable: RB Stephen Carr (foot), DL Malik Dorton (knee). OL Chuma Edoga (ankle), DL Rasheem Green (ankle), WR Jalen Greene (concussion), OLB Porter Gustin (toe/bicep), LB Jordan Iosefa (concussion), DL Marlon Tuipulotu (knee)
• Probable: WR Deontay Burnett (shoulder), CB Jamel Cook (illness), DL Josh Fatu (knee), LT Toa Lobendahn (infection), WR Steven Mitchell (groin)

Talamaivao has 37 career starts to his name going back to his freshman season in 2014. Friday night at Washington State was his last. That start and the subsequent injury turned out to be a case of very bad luck. If Talamaivao had been injured a day earlier, he would have been eligible to seek a medical fifth year of eligibility.

“Usually the breaking point is after the fourth game and we went four games and 22 plays,” Helton said. “It’s a sad story.”

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• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
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As a result of Talamaivao’s injury, true freshman Andrew Vorhees is now the No. 1 right guard on the squad.

Besides the news on Talamaivao, the Trojan injury situation remained as is on Wednesday. Left tackle Toa Lobendahn and wide receiver Steven Mitchell progressed in their bid to return to action this weekend, but several others remained out, including defensive lineman Rasheem Green, running back Stephen Carr, receiver Jalen Greene, linebacker Jordan Iosefa and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga.

Outside linebacker Porter Gustin and tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe also remain sidelined.

Defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu missed another practice as well. The Trojans want to see how he progresses with a back injury over the next week before they make a decision about his status going forward, Helton said.