News updates from Thursday's practice:
DT Kenny Bigelow injured his knee during an early team period and was later carted off the field. Coach Clay Helton said he'll have an MRI and update us Saturday. Immediately after Bigelow went down, someone yelled for the trainers to come and attend to him. Helton intimated the injury could be serious.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster didn't practice because of a tight hamstring.
DT Noah Jefferson (back) sat out a second consecutive practice. His MRI came back negative but he will have a CAT scan done to ensure he's OK.
TE Tyler Petite was again sidelined as he is undergoing concussion protocol. Helton hopes he'll be able to return next week.
Helton said LB Osa Masina (hamstring) could return next week. Helton said Masina injured the hamstring in winter workouts. You might remember he had previously injured his hamstring in the second half of last season as well.
S John Plattenburg also remained out.
Helton said LB Don Hill's unspecified violation of team rules will keep him out for all of spring. Helton added that there has been no change in LB Scott Felix's status. Not having either for spring hurts USC a bit because they play the same position and the Trojans aren't deep at outside linebacker.
Another look at WR Michael Pittman's collarbone revealed a small fracture that will keep him out of contact drills for the rest of spring.
DC Clancy Pendergast stated he hasn't gone back and reviewed any USC film from last year (he did say he saw them a bit on TV). Helton said he advised Pendergast where to put each player based on his knowledge of Pendergast's system.
I asked Helton if he viewed Justin Davis and Ronald Jones II as 1 and 1A or if he'd like to choose a feature back between them. The long answer is on the video. The short answer is he feels like they complement one another so well that you can probably expect their carries to be split about 50-50 unless one breaks out. Helton added that Aca'Cedric Ware is having a strong spring thus far.
He said Zach Banner is legitimately competing for the starting job at left tackle. Helton liked how he played in his two starts there last season. Banner has primarily taken second-team reps in spring, so it wasn't clear if he was merely working there as a contingency plan.
2017 Redlands East Valley DE/OLB Jaelan Phillips and 2018 Harbor City Narbonne LB Raymond Scott attended practice.
Helton reiterated that Saturday's practice at the Coliseum (10 a.m.) will involve scrimmaging and game situations.
More details from today's practice coming in Footnotes.
DT Kenny Bigelow injured his knee during an early team period and was later carted off the field. Coach Clay Helton said he'll have an MRI and update us Saturday. Immediately after Bigelow went down, someone yelled for the trainers to come and attend to him. Helton intimated the injury could be serious.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster didn't practice because of a tight hamstring.
DT Noah Jefferson (back) sat out a second consecutive practice. His MRI came back negative but he will have a CAT scan done to ensure he's OK.
TE Tyler Petite was again sidelined as he is undergoing concussion protocol. Helton hopes he'll be able to return next week.
Helton said LB Osa Masina (hamstring) could return next week. Helton said Masina injured the hamstring in winter workouts. You might remember he had previously injured his hamstring in the second half of last season as well.
S John Plattenburg also remained out.
Helton said LB Don Hill's unspecified violation of team rules will keep him out for all of spring. Helton added that there has been no change in LB Scott Felix's status. Not having either for spring hurts USC a bit because they play the same position and the Trojans aren't deep at outside linebacker.
Another look at WR Michael Pittman's collarbone revealed a small fracture that will keep him out of contact drills for the rest of spring.
DC Clancy Pendergast stated he hasn't gone back and reviewed any USC film from last year (he did say he saw them a bit on TV). Helton said he advised Pendergast where to put each player based on his knowledge of Pendergast's system.
I asked Helton if he viewed Justin Davis and Ronald Jones II as 1 and 1A or if he'd like to choose a feature back between them. The long answer is on the video. The short answer is he feels like they complement one another so well that you can probably expect their carries to be split about 50-50 unless one breaks out. Helton added that Aca'Cedric Ware is having a strong spring thus far.
He said Zach Banner is legitimately competing for the starting job at left tackle. Helton liked how he played in his two starts there last season. Banner has primarily taken second-team reps in spring, so it wasn't clear if he was merely working there as a contingency plan.
2017 Redlands East Valley DE/OLB Jaelan Phillips and 2018 Harbor City Narbonne LB Raymond Scott attended practice.
Helton reiterated that Saturday's practice at the Coliseum (10 a.m.) will involve scrimmaging and game situations.
More details from today's practice coming in Footnotes.
