USC missing multiple stars for matchup with Arizona
USC is missing a number of starters and key players for its Week 9 matchup with Oregon.
Leading receiver Jordan Addison was officially ruled out prior to kickoff. As were linebackers Eric Gentry and Ralen Goforth. USC will also be missing left tackle Andrew Vorhees and rush end Korey Foreman.
After the trio of Addison, Gentry, and Goforth all went through the week limited in practice, coach Lincoln Riley couldn’t definitively say on Thursday whether they’d be available. He said they’d be gametime decisions that went “down to the wire.”
Addison was knocked out of USC’s game against Utah on Oct. 15 late in the third with what appeared to be a lower-leg injury after a hit near the sideline. He was tended to by USC trainers and eventually walked around a bit under his own power on the sidelines, but was later spotted on crutches and without his pads.
Gentry was also forced out of the game early in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a lower-leg injury as well.
In his absence, Tuasivi Nomura and Shane Lee started at linebacker for the Trojans.
With Vorhees also out, USC shuffled the offensive line a bit. Bobby Haskins started at left tackle, Justin Dedich moved from his usual starting spot at right guard to left guard, Jonah Monheim moved inside from right tackle to right guard, and second-year freshman Mason Murphy stepped in for his first career start at right tackle.
Foreman has eight total tackles for USC this season, with appearances in six games. USC will use Solomon Byrd and Nick Figueroa at the rush end spot, which Riley said this week needs to be a bit more productive.
USC and Arizona are battling on the Pac-12 Network.