USC Injury Report: Uchenna Nwosu, Tyler Petite, Toa Lobendahn held out (11/7)

Veteran starters Uchenna Nwosu, Tyler Petite and Toa Lobendahn were held out of practice as the Trojans prep for Colorado. Here’s the USC injury report for November 7.

For two months, USC has been unable to keep the injury report from growing each week and it was no different as the Trojans started up their preparations for Colorado with more than few starters missing.

USC practiced without starting strongside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, along with left tackle Toa Lobendahn and tight end Tyler Petite on Tuesday.

Petite hurt his shoulder in the first half against Arizona and did not return to the game. Head coach Clay Helton described him as day-to-day.

Lobendahn was given the same status as he was held with a sore knee. Freshman Austin Jackson took first team reps in his place.

Nwosu was seen with a noticeable limp after the Trojans win over Arizona on Saturday and is now listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury. The key defender was not at practice and was replaced by Oluwole Betiku in the lineup.

USC Injury Report:

• Out for season: DL Kenny Bigelow (retirement), 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), DL Marlon Tuipulotu (back), WR Keyshawn “Pie” Young (hamstring/redshirt)
• Out:  OLB Hunter Echols (hip), TE Josh Falo (foot), DL Christian Rector (hand), OT Nathan Smith (knee), RB James Toland (shoulder)
• Doubtful: OLB Porter Gustin (toe)
• Questionable: OLB Juliano Falaniko (thigh), OL Toa Lobendahn (knee), RB Vavae Malepeai (knee), CB Iman Marshall (knee), OLB Connor Murphy (hip), OLB Uchenna Nwosu (ankle), TE Tyler Petite (shoulder)
• Probable: RB Stephen Carr (foot), OL Chuma Edoga (ankle), DL Rasheem Green (shoulder), K Chase McGrath (groin)

Outside linebacker has been a position hit particularly hard by injury in 2017. The Trojans also remained without Porter Gustin, whose foot was back in a boot on Saturday at the Coliseum.

Head coach Clay Helton termed Gustin as day-to-day but “doubtful” for the coming week.

Gustin’s first replacement, Christian Rector, is also out for the time being. Helton noted the defensive end was able to do some conditioning work on Tuesday as he recovers from hand surgery.

Linebacker Jordan Iosefa continued to work on the outside in their place.

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Backups at the outside linebacker spots have not been immune to injury either. Connor Murphy may have been in line for extra playing time this week but he say out on Tuesday with a hip pointer. His status, according to Helton, is day-to-day.

True freshman outside linebacker Juliano Falaniko, another potential stand in for Nwosu, came out of the Arizona with a thigh bruise, but he practiced better than expected, Helton said. He left practice early, however.

Also on the defensive front, defensive end Rasheem Green was limited during Tuesday’s practice because of a shoulder issue.

At cornerback, Iman Marshall made a return to action after sitting out two weeks with an MCL sprain. Though he was limited, Helton indicated both Marshall and running back Vavae Malepeai, who was also back in action, could see time this weekend.

“Both of them have a chance. Both of them showed good signs,” Helton said.

Malepeai missed the Arizona game with a knee injury suffered against Arizona State.

Tight end Josh Falo made a return to the practice field as well on Tuesday.

TRENDING: Pac-12 Standings and Championship Game Forecast

USC also held kicker Chase McGrath out of practice on Tuesday, and they plan to keep him sidelined for the week as he deals with a groin injury. The Trojans expect to have McGrath available for place kicking duties at Colorado, but punter Reid Budrovich is slated to take over kickoff duties to take the stress off of McGrath’s injury.