Please don't worry about USC Football RB Raleek Brown's injury

RB Raleek Brown suffered an ankle injury in USC football's Week 1 game vs. Rice, but it appears that the injury is minor. Lincoln Riley told the media that every USC player who faced a minor injury during the contest has a "great shot" to play against Stanford in Week 2:

This is great news for Brown's injury status. It was slightly eyebrow-raising when he was carted off the field after the game, but he was carted off--once again--after the game. He dinged up his ankle with enough time left in the game for him to have been carted off during the game, and not after. It was not an immediate carting off, which suggests that it's not as serious as carting a player off typically seems.

Besides, there's a hill that SC players have to walk up when they leave and head back to the locker room. Every player who has a nagging leg injury like that always gets carted off--that's standard practice. Brown's injury is not special.

Also, it's not a secret that Brown has been able to practice this week. Riley said on Tuesday that "He was able to do quite a bit with us today. If he keeps progressing, I'd expect him to play." Brown's ankle was taped, but it didn't seem to be affecting him in the videos that media members who attended practice posted. Below is an example.

Raleek Brown had an outstanding game for USC football last week.

Therefore, it's good news that with just two days out from USC football's next game, Raleek Brown has a "great shot" to play. He's a dual-threat running back who led the skill position players for the Trojans in all-purpose yards against Rice with 76 yards.

He did it efficiently too; averaging six yards per carry (while tied for team lead in carries with Caleb Williams at six), and averaging 20 yards per reception on his two catches (led USC running backs in receiving yards). He had a rushing touchdown to go along with that yardage too, and even a Heisman pose in the end zone.

Is he on his way to a Heisman Trophy? Well, likely not this year. Is he talented enough to be in the conversation for one eventually, though? Well, he just might be. In order to prove it, his availability on Saturday will be important. Luckily, there's no evidence to suggest he won't be out there.

Having Travis Dye, Brown, Austin Jones, and Darwin Barlow all out there gives USC the chance to ride the run game against a team that will probably try to control the clock against the Trojans as they always try to do. If Brown doesn't play, that still leaves three legit backs against Stanford. If Brown does play, though, this offense can be as dynamic as it wants to be.