USC Injury Report: Porter Gustin out for Pac-12 Championship Game (11/27)

Linebacker Porter Gustin is likely to miss the Trojans date with Stanford in the Pac-12 title game, plus more from the USC injury report for Nov. 27.

USC Football will have to endure another week without linebacker Porter Gustin, whose broken toe will likely keep him out when the Trojans face Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday.

“With the toe I don’t think he’s going to be able to practice this week,” head coach Clay Helton updated Gustin’s status following the bye week. “I think we have a better opportunity in a bowl game.”

Gustin has missed eight games for USC this season because of the broken toe he sustained in Week 2 against Stanford. Though he played in the Texas game shortly after surgery, a set back saw him sit out five games before a brief return against ASU. He has not suited up since and has sported a plaster cast on his foot.

With Gustin out, the Trojans will continue to rely on Christian Rector and Jordan Iosefa in his place.

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 (redshirt), WR Randal Grimes (hand), OLB Porter Gustin (toe), OT Nathan Smith (knee), RB James Toland (shoulder)
• Questionable: Jamel Cook (academics)
• Probable: OL Chris Brown (back), P Reid Budrovich (shoulder), QB Matt Fink (knee), DL Rasheem Green (shoulder), WR Velus Jones Jr. (ankle), K Chase McGrath (groin), TE Tyler Petite (shoulder), DL Christian Rector (hand)

Besides Gustin, the injury news on Monday as USC began preparations for Stanford were not particularly concerning.

Defensive lineman Rasheem Green suited up, but was limited to working with a trainer as he works through a nagging shoulder sprain. The junior spent the better part of two weeks before the bye week doing limited work with trainers but still played against Colorado and UCLA, so it is likely he will play on Friday despite being listed as day-to-day.

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The same goes for Tyler Petite, whose is also battling a shoulder injury. Helton listed the tight end as day-to-day and he was held out of action on Monday.

At wide receiver, Velus Jones Jr. suffered a high ankle sprain against UCLA, but the bye week worked well in his favor and he was able to get in eight periods of work before being pulled from practice.

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Meanwhile, offensive lineman Chris Brown, who couldn’t finish the UCLA game because of a back injury, was a full participant on Monday. Backup quarterback Matt Fink, who had a sprained knee before the bye week, and punter Reid Budrovich, who injured his shoulder against the Bruins, also practiced fully.

The Trojans may not have the services of defensive back Jamel Cook against this week though. The redshirt freshman will not practice for the time being while he focuses on academics, Helton said.