Jordan Addison expected to miss Cotton Bowl, declare for NFL Draft; USC to also be without All-American guard
Jordan Addison has seemingly played his final game for USC.
At his signing day press conference on Wednesday, Trojan head coach Lincoln Riley told reporters the star wideout will not play in the Cotton Bowl against Tulane on Jan. 2 as he continues to rehab an ankle injury that limited him late in the season. USC will also be without left guard Andrew Vorhees, Riley revealed.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shed some light on the Addison front, adding that he suffered a minor setback after the Pac-12 Championship Game. The injury is not believed to be serious, but with Addison a projected first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he’ll sit the game out and get ready for the pre-draft process.
#USC star WR Jordan Addison planned to play in the Cotton Bowl, but had a minor setback with his ankle after the Pac 12 championship. The injury is not serious, but he wouldn’t have been full speed in the bowl game. So, he won’t play and is expected to declare for the NFL Draft.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 21, 2022
Addison has had a nagging ankle issue since the Trojans’ Oct. 15 loss to Utah. He missed two games in the regular season as a result, and only ever looked like himself once the rest of the way. Addison went off for 178 yards and a score on 11 catches in the Trojans’ Nov. 19 win over UCLA, but was limited to 45 yards on three catches the following week against Notre Dame and then 65 yards on five catches in the title game loss to Utah.
Still, the former Biletnikoff winner finished the season with 875 yards on 59 receptions. He was tied for the Pac-12 lead with eight receiving touchdowns and closed out the regular season ranked seventh in the league in receiving yards. For his efforts, Addison earned a spot on the All-Pac-12 First Team in his lone season in the conference.
Vorhees was a First Team All-American selection by the Associated Press this season. Per PFF, Vorhees is the No. 4 graded guard in the nation with over 700 snaps. USC will also be without center Brett Neilon for the game.