USC football injury report: Cameron Smith, Brandon Pili limited (10/10)

Cameron Smith and Brandon Pili didn’t finish practice on Wednesday while Stephen Carr missed out entirely. Here’s the USC football injury report for October 10.

Just when it seems as though the USC football injury report will shrink, new names find their way onto the sideline. On Wednesday, USC continued their preparations for Colorado without the services of several players who picked up new concerns or had old ones reemerge.

Senior linebacker Cameron Smith left practice early with ice on his hamstring, a naggy problem which has dogged him since Fall Camp. Head coach Clay Helton indicated little worry over the captain, however. The Trojans will manage the tightness by giving him rest, but he is not expected to miss game time.

“Every time it gets tight we shut it down for a day or so and he’s been able to come back,” Helton said.

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That will be the hope for defensive lineman Brandon Pili as well after he missed the end of practice with a toe injury. The big man was stepped on, lost his toe nail and will get an x-ray on the appendage just to be sure there isn’t anything else wrong.

On the other side of the line, center Toa Lobendahn was held out with back spasms, moving Brett Neilon up into the first team lineup. His status for Saturday is unclear.

Running back Stephen Carr also didn’t participate in the action on Howard Jones Field as the latest Trojan to fall victim to a stomach bug which has been going around the team.

Meanwhile, the likes of Jay Tufele and Levi Jones did not suit up in shells like their teammates, but they were present and running with trainers. Tufele is being eased back after being in a car accident over the bye week. Jones has been sidelined by illness since last week. Both will have their fate for the weekend decided later in the week.

It still seems unlikely that linebacker Porter Gustin will miss any game action as he continues to fight through an ankle injury, though Helton did note he would have missed game time if the Trojans hadn’t been on a bye last week. He remained limited on Wednesday.

Defensive lineman Malik Dorton is dealing with a similar problem, but he continues to practice through it.

USC Football 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)
  • QB Jack Sears (back)
  • DL Brandon Pili (toe)
  • DL Jay Tufele (accident)
  • LB Levi Jones (illness)
  • LB Raymond Scott (hand)
• Probable
  • OL Toa Lobendahn (back)
  • RB Stephen Carr (illness)
  • DL Malik Dorton (ankle)
  • LB Porter Gustin (knee)
  • LB Cameron Smith (hamstring)

Helton also revealed that quarterback Jack Sears is dealing with a back problem, explaining his lack of participation this week.