USC football injury report: Porter Gustin done for season (10/14)

Linebacker Porter Gustin suffered a broken ankle against Colorado and will miss the rest of the season. Here’s the USC football injury report for October 14.

For the second season in a row, Porter Gustin’s season is ended early. This time more definitively than last. Gustin fractured his ankle against Colorado, ending his season and career at USC football.

Head coach Clay Helton revealed the extent of Gustin’s injury during his Sunday conference call. The linebacker came out of Saturday’s game with just a couple of minutes left on the clock. Before leaving the game he posted six tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss and a QB hurry.

Injury concerns have dogged Gustin for the last year. Going into Saturday’s game, he had been fighting an ankle sprain throughout the week and had already missed time in Fall Camp with a torn MCL. Last year, Gustin missed the bulk of the season because of a broken toe.

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The loss of Gustin is a major concern for the Trojans, who have struggled to rush the passer without No. 45 on the field. He currently leads the team with seven sacks on the season, that’s more than half of USC’s team total and good for seventh nationally.

Replacing Gustin’s production will have to fall to a multitude of players. Defensive end Christian Rector can slide over to the Predator spot while outside linebackers like Hunter Echols and Kana’i Mauga could see their reps increase as a result of the loss. Helton also referenced creative solutions with odd formations as a potential solution.

Gustin finishes his USC career with 137 tackles, including 33 for loss. Of those, 21 were sacks.

The Trojans have other injury concerns coming out of the Colorado game, mostly on defense.

Defensive lineman Brandon Pili suffered a shoulder injury against the Buffaloes, as did cornerback Olaijah Griffin. Defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu strained his elbow while nickelback Jonathan Lockett hurt his hip.

TRENDING: Five takeaways from USC’s defensive victory over Colorado

Meanwhile, linebacker Palaie Gaoteote will have to clear concussion protocol before he can return to the field.

USC Football Injury Report

• Out for the season
  • LB Porter Gustin (ankle)
  • LB Tayler Katoa (LDS Mission)
  • DB Isaiah Pola-Mao (shoulder)
  • K Chase McGrath (knee)
• Out
  • OL Clayton Bradley (back)
  • OL Bernard Schirmer (neck)
  • TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (quad)
  • LB Oluwole Betiku (hip)
  • LB Solomon Tuliaupupu (foot)
  • DB Isaac Taylor-Stuart (ankle)
  • Questionable
    • DL Brandon Pili (shoulder)
    • DL Marlon Tuipulotu (elbow)
    • LB Palaie Gaoteote (concussion)
    • LB Cameron Smith (hamstring)
    • LB Raymond Scott (hand)
    • DB Olaijah Griffin (shoulder)
    • DB Jonathan Lockett (hip)

    More will be known about the future status of players on the injury listed on Tuesday, Helton said, but the Trojans will hope they are short term concerns with a major match up with Utah looming.