USC football injury report: Jay Tufele sidelined by car accident (10/9)

Defensive lineman Jay Tufele was held out of Tuesday’s practice as a precaution after a bye week car accident. Here’s the USC football injury report for October 9.

PRACTICE NOTES. Players, Coaches Challenged

USC football could be down one defensive lineman this week against Colorado as redshirt freshman Jay Tufele sat out practice on Tuesday.

The lineman was a passenger in a car accident while visiting home over the bye week and is now in a protocol to ensure he is fit to play.

“We’re just being precautionary,” head coach Clay Helton explained after practice.

More from Reign of Troy

Considering how the disappointing Trojan pass rush was a focus of the bye week, it’s frustrating timing to potentially lose Tufele, who is one of USC’s most explosive forces on the interior line. Wednesday should hold more answers as to whether or not he suit up this weekend.

For reference, senior defensive tackle Josh Fatu was in a car accident before last year’s Notre Dame game and was held out for a week.

Tufele wasn’t the only big man added to the injury list Tuesday. Backup offensive tackle Clayton Bradley missed the day with a lower back injury. Austin Jackson worked with the second team in his stead.

Meanwhile, defensive lineman Malik Dorton and outside linebacker Porter Gustin are battling through ankle injuries, though it seems likely both will be able to tough it out on Saturday.

The status of linebackers Levi Jones and Raymond Scott is less clear.

The former has been out since early last week with illness and was once again absent on Tuesday.

The latter also sat out last week’s bye practices after breaking his finger against Arizona and undergoing surgery to insert screws in his hand. He was back on the practice field with a cast, but Helton said they would have to wait and see if he can play against Colorado later in the week.

USC Injury Report

Out for the season
- LB Tayler Katoa (LDS Mission)
- DB Isaiah Pola-Mao (shoulder)
- K Chase McGrath (knee)
Out
- OL Bernard Schirmer (neck)
- TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (quad)
- LB Oluwole Betiku (hip)
- LB Solomon Tuliaupupu (foot)
- DB Isaac Taylor-Stuart (ankle)
Questionable
- OL Clayton Bradley (back)
- DL Jay Tufele (accident)
- LB Levi Jones (illness)
- LB Raymond Scott (hand)
Probable
- DL Malik Dorton (ankle)
- LB Porter Gustin (knee)

Finally things are looking good a handful of players who were rested or spared for the bye week. Safety Talanoa Hufanga and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who were out last week with a quad and shoulder injury respectively, were back to practice Tuesday.

Offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, who has been dealing with a hip problem, and linebackers John Houston and Cameron Smith practiced without issue as well.

Home/USC FOOTBALL NEWS