USC Football Injury Report: Michael Pittman suffers shoulder sprain (3/23)

Wide receiver Michael Pittman suffered a shoulder sprain on Friday while head coach Clay Helton updated several players on the USC Football Injury Report.

USC Football almost made it through the second week of Spring Camp with a perfect injury record, but not quite.

Junior receiver Michael Pittman was forced to leave USC’s Friday practice because of a shoulder sprain. Luckily, x-rays came back negative, limiting the potential injury layoff.

“We’re being very precautionary because it was on the same shoulder that he did break a collarbone a year ago,” Helton said.

An AC sprain will usually take a few days to heal, Helton added, so the Trojans will have to wait to reevaluate Pittman’s status for next week.

USC Football Injury Report:

• Out for spring: LB Oluwole Betiku (hip), RB Stephen Carr (back), TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hip), DL Marlon Tuipulotu (back)
• Out: TE Austin Applebee (undisclosed), OL Jacob Daniel (undisclosed), DL Jacob Lichtenstein (undisclosed), WR Michael Pittman (shoulder)
• Limited: CB Greg Johnson (shoulder), LB Tayler Katoa (knee), OL Toa Lobendahn (knee), RB Vavae Malepeai (hamstring), S Isaiah Pola-Mao (shoulder)

Running back Vavae Malepeai could be nearing a full return after sitting out the first week of practice with a hamstring injury, then seeing limited action in Week 2,

“We wanted to ease him back in,” Helton said Friday. “We feel like he’s right there on the edge to be able to go.”

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Getting Malepeai back in full would be a major boost for the Trojans at running back, where Aca’Cedric Ware has had to carry the load with Dominic Davis swapping over from defense to fill the void left by Stephen Carr’s back injury.

Helton also took the time to clarify the status of defensive backs Greg Johnson and Isaiah Pola-Mao for this spring. After both missed the 2017 season because of shoulder surgery, they have been cleared for “thud” tempo but not live tackling.

Defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu won’t be available for any action this spring, but Helton reported progress with his rehab. He is on track to return in time for Fall Camp.

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“The doctors are very pleased with the way things are going.”