USC vs. Stanford Injury Report: K.J. Costello officially out

USC vs. Stanford will not feature either team’s starting quarterback as the Cardinal confirmed K.J. Costello will miss Saturday’s action.

Officially call it the “Battle of the Backups.” USC vs. Stanford will involve two quarterbacks making their first career starts because of injury. For the Trojans, it’s Kedon Slovis in for JT Daniels. For the Cardinal, it’s Davis Mills for K.J. Costello.

USC has known that Daniels will be unavailable since it was revealed on Sunday he tore his ACL and meniscus when he was sacked against Fresno State.

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On Thursday evening, Stanford head coach David Shaw officially confirmed Costello will sit out because of a hit to the head he took against Northwestern. Mills, who completed 7-of-14 passes in Week 1, will start in his place.

Both offenses will be led by a quarterback making their first career start, though Mills status as a redshirt sophomore gives him a bit of an experience edge over the true freshman Slovis. The two combined have attempted a total of 24 career passes.

Where Slovis may have an edge is in who will be protecting him. Stanford will be without starting left tackle Walker Little, who suffered a dislocated knee against Northwestern.

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Starting defensive end Thomas Booker is questionable for the Cardinal, along with versatile backup offensive lineman Dylan Powell.

USC, by comparison, is relatively healthy outside of the quarterback spot. Head coach Clay Helton confirmed on Thursday that lineman Andrew Vorhees will be available to play after missing practice time earlier in the week with a foot injury. He, however, will not start, with Jalen McKenzie maintaining his place in the lineup.

Helton also updated the status of linebacker Jordan Iosefa, who is still a couple of weeks away from returning to action. He injured his knee during Fall Camp and was projected to sit out for four to six weeks.

USC football injury report

• OUT FOR THE SEASON:
  • LB Solomon Tuliaupupu (foot)
  • QB JT Daniels (knee)
• OUT:
  • CB Max Williams (hamstring)
  • DL Jacob Lichtenstein (calf)
  • LB Jordan Iosefa (knee)
  • LB Elijah Winston (turf toe)
  • OLB Abdul-Malik McClain
  • TE Ethan Rae (knee)
  • WR Kyle Ford (knee)
  • WR Bru McCoy (illness)
• PROBABLE:
  • OL Andrew Vorhees (foot)

Stanford football injury report

• OUT:
  • OL Walker Little (knee)
  • QB K.J. Costello (concussion)
• QUESTIONABLE:
  • DE Thomas Booker (undisclosed)
  • OL Dylan Powell (undisclosed)