USC Football Injury Report: Stephen Carr is ahead of schedule (4/10)

Running back Stephen Carr is ahead of schedule in his recovery and should be fully healthy in time for Fall Camp, plus more from the USC Football Injury Report.

When it was revealed running back Stephen Carr would miss all of Spring Camp because of back surgery, concern was rightfully high. Back injuries can be notoriously difficult to recover from.

On Tuesday, USC Football head coach Clay Helton assuaged some fears when it comes to Carr’s progress, declaring the sophomore is “ahead of schedule.”

“Right now he’s on pace to be full speed for training camp,” Helton said.

Helton laid out the plan to get Carr back on the field, explaining that the start of June will mark three months from his surgery. That’s the target for getting Carr back into strength and conditioning plus ramping up to work on change of direction. From there, he’ll have two months of rehab ahead of Fall Camp.

Carr will work with trainers this summer, missing summer workouts, as the Trojans plan to be “very protective” with him.

The good news is, there are no long term worries for the player. The problem with his back has been fixed and the rehab simply has to do with being cut open.

USC Football Injury Report:

• Out for spring: LB Oluwole Betiku (hip), K Michael Brown (knee), RB Stephen Carr (back), TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hip), LB Jordan Iosefa (knee), DL Jacob Lichtenstein (knee), DL Marlon Tuipulotu (back)
• Out: TE Austin Applebee (undisclosed), RB Dominic Davis (dizziness)
• Questionable: DL Malik Dorton (back), OL Austin Jackson (foot), TE Tyler Petite (undisclosed)
• Limited: CB Je’Quari Godfrey (hamstring), CB Greg Johnson (shoulder), LB Tayler Katoa (knee), OL Toa Lobendahn (knee), WR Michael Pittman (shoulder), S Isaiah Pola-Mao (shoulder)

Defensive lineman Malik Dorton was pulled on Tuesday because of back spasms. Helton expects him to return on Thursday.

Over on the offensive line, left tackle Austin Jackson sat out another practice after missing out on Thursday and Saturday. Helton revealed he has tendinitis in his foot and they opted to give him the day off to rest it before he comes back for full pads practices on Thursday and Saturday.

Helton also clarified that the injury which kept Brandon Pili out last week had to do with his back. The nose tackle returned on Saturday and was no worse for wear on Tuesday.

The status of kicker Michael Brown was updated as well. Recovery from ACL surgery for a kicker can take anywhere from nine months to a year, Helton said. A year to the day from Brown’s surgery would be in Week 3 of the coming season, so the Trojans will see where he’s at during training camp and go from there. For the time being, Chase McGrath remains USC’s starter.