USC Football Injury Report: Absences At This Position Causing Major Concern
Ahead of the your USC Trojans' bout with Notre Dame on Saturday, having a healthy roster is imperative.
The Fighting Irish currently sit at 21st in the country, possessing a record of 5-2, highlighted by multiple blowout wins.
The 10th-ranked Trojans come off of a double-overtime win against the Arizona Wildcats, where questions that had already risen about the USC defense had a spotlight placed on them, as the Trojans ceded 41 points to a below-average offense statistically.
Now, ahead of rivalry week, the USC defense has plenty to work on. To that end, however, there's a bigger issue to worry about than the defense's improvement, and that's the unit's health.
The Trojan defense has been banged up all season, with linebacker Eric Gentry missing games against Nevada and Colorado, while lineman Korey Foreman, safety Max Williams, and wide receiver Zachariah Branch have also missed time. Thuc Nhi Nguyen of The Los Angeles Times also writes that LB Mason Cobb, who made the game-sealing tackle in triple-overtime against Arizona has been dealing with a rib ailment for the past month,
This week, however, the cornerback group is the one to really monitor. Domani Jackson has missed significant time but is expected to play, and Jacobe Covington and Christian Roland-Wallace were limited in the second half against the Wildcats. While the three of them will likely end up playing, how healthy they are is a huge question mark, as that'll dramatically impact their efficacy on the field for an already-questionable Trojans defense.
Overall, the Trojans have been adept at overcoming injuries throughout the season, making this a winnable game in spite of the obstacles in front of them.
And, more importantly, regardless of health, the USC defense has to play at a level far higher than they did against U of A, or else we'll be looking at a bleak outcome in South Bend.
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