Markese Stepp on track to play for USC football against ASU despite new injury

USC football should have running back Markese Stepp available against ASU even though he’s picked up a new injury.

The Markese Stepp injury saga has stretched throughout the long 2020 offseason and unfortunately, it still isn’t quite resolved.

During training camp, Stepp made serious progress back from last year’s ankle injury but picked up a touch of turf toe.

The good news is neither the new nor the old injury should keep him from playing when USC football battles ASU on Saturday.

Markese Stepp is expected to play for USC football against ASU

Stepp had to have surgery on the ankle injury sprain he suffered against Arizona in 2019. Most of the 2020 offseason was spent rehabbing that injury.

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He was able to get back to practice in mid-October, but Clay Helton revealed he had to sit out some more because of a foot sprain. Now we know that sprain is actually turf toe.

The phrase “turf toe” is a concern. That kind of injury, which is essentially a sprain of the big toe, has dogged many a running back for weeks on end. A lot of it is about managing pain, but there are additional concerns about other injuries cropping up as a result of gait changes.

The fact that Stepp is expected to play this weekend is a good sign. USC and the player just need to be careful to manage the injury.

Realistically, USC fans shouldn’t expect Stepp to get a full load, but that likely wouldn’t have been the case even if he were at full strength.

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The Trojans have a stable of running backs ready to combine to carry the ground game. Stephen Carr has had a strong training camp according to players and coaches. Vavae Malepeai is also a veteran with starting potential, though he also has been slowed by injury this camp. Speedy youngster Kenan Christon is another option.