USC Injury Update
USC Star Receiver Trent Mosley Misses Big Ten Opener Due To Knee Injury
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Key Points
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Mosley injured his right knee while catching a 21-yard touchdown early in the third quarter against Louisiana and was later seen on the bench with ice on the knee.
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Mosley opened his USC career with consecutive 100-yard receiving games: seven catches for 118 yards against his debut opponent, followed by four catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns against Fresno State.
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USC’s injury report listed several additional players beyond Mosley and Stewart: tight end Taniela Tupou was out, safety Madden Riordan was doubtful, and running back Deshonne Redeaux and linebacker Jdayn Walker were questionable.
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Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan had completed 16 of 29 passes for 240 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions before missing the Boston College game; backup AJ Surace started that loss and threw three touchdowns and four interceptions.
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USC has begun complying with the Big Ten’s new requirement that teams submit four availability reports before games, though Coach Lincoln Riley called the process “a little tedious” and urged conference teams to be accurate.
USC's dynamic freshman receiver Trent Mosley is out for Saturday's Big Ten opener at Rutgers after suffering a right knee injury in last week's 49-30 win over Louisiana. The Sports Writ Network reports Mosley sustained the injury while catching a 21-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter and is expected to miss multiple games. Coach Lincoln Riley said Mosley's return timeline remains uncertain and will depend on his recovery progress.
The loss of Mosley is a major blow to USC's passing game as the Trojans enter their toughest conference schedule. The freshman has emerged as the team's top receiver with 13 catches for 255 yards and four touchdowns, plus an 86-yard punt-return score. Fish Duck indicates his absence could extend into the Oregon matchup, a pivotal game in the Big Ten stretch.
Mosley's Breakout Freshman Season Cut Short
Mosley opened his USC career with back-to-back 100-yard receiving performances. Against his debut opponent, he caught seven passes for 118 yards. He followed that with four catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns against Fresno State. His 13 total receptions rank him as USC's leading receiver entering Big Ten play.
The injury happened during the third quarter when Mosley hauled in a 21-yard touchdown reception. He was later spotted on the bench with ice applied to his right knee. The Olympian notes his dual role as both a primary receiver and punt returner makes his absence especially damaging to USC's offensive arsenal.
Stewart Downgraded; USC's Injury Report Deepens
Beyond Mosley, USC's injury situation is deteriorating. On3 reports that defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart was downgraded from questionable to out for the Rutgers game. Tight end Taniela Tupou is already ruled out, while safety Madden Riordan is doubtful and running back Deshonne Redeaux remains questionable.
Linebacker Jdayn Walker is also questionable heading into Saturday. The mounting injuries force USC to shuffle personnel across both sides of the ball as the Trojans navigate their Big Ten debut against a Rutgers team coming off a loss to Boston College.
Rutgers Quarterback Status Remains In Flux
Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan is listed as probable after missing last week's loss to Boston College. Before his absence, Lonergan completed 16 of 29 passes for 240 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Backup AJ Surace started against Boston College and threw three touchdowns and four interceptions in the losing effort.
If Lonergan is unavailable again, Surace will make his second consecutive start. Either way, USC's defense will face uncertainty at the quarterback position. The injury questions surrounding both teams add complexity to an already important conference matchup.
Big Ten's New Availability Reports Create Friction
USC has begun complying with the Big Ten's new requirement: teams must submit four availability reports before each game. Coach Lincoln Riley expressed frustration with the process, calling it "a little tedious." Riley urged all conference teams to submit accurate information during these mandatory updates.
The additional reporting requirements are meant to improve transparency across the conference. However, the system places extra burden on coaching staffs managing multiple injuries while preparing for games. Riley's criticism highlights ongoing tension between conference office mandates and sideline operations.
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