Lincoln Riley gives injury update on multiple key defensive players

Lincoln Riley met with reporters on Wednesday and provided an update on a couple of injured Trojans.

Linebacker Raesjon Davis and defensive lineman Romello Height both missed practice on Wednesday. However, it sounds like neither injury is expected to impact the start of the regular season.

Davis’ injury is expected to keep him out for the first half of fall camp, Riley said. He’s dealing with a hand injury that he suffered early on in fall camp.

Lincoln Riley said this morning that third-year linebacker Raesjon Davis suffered a hand injury early on in camp and should miss a few days: “We’ll get him back here in the second half of camp.” #USC

— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) August 2, 2023

After discussing his injury, Riley was very complimentary of the growth that Davis has made this offseason. Davis made 8 tackles last season in limited playing time but could be in-line for a larger role in 2023.

“He feels like a guy who’s starting to surge,” Riley said. “He’s in the best shape, by far, of his life. His body is much more developed than where he was when we came in. He’s stronger, faster, he’s a little more confident.”

As for Height, Riley described his injury as a “small nick” and said he should be back to practice soon.

Rush end Romello Height wasn’t at the media-viewing portion of practice today. Riley said he has a “small nick” he’s dealing with and should be back quickly. #USC

— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) August 2, 2023

Height, a former Auburn transfer, missed almost all of the 2022 season with a shoulder injury.

USC opens the 2023 season against San Jose State on Aug. 26.