Injuries galore for USC Trojans, with yet another player sidelined out of action. After a practice session on Tuesday, HC Lincoln Riley told the USCAthletics that an important defensive tackle will miss the remainder of the season as he undergoes surgery. This would mean an addition to USC’s long list of injuries, which includes LT Elijah Page and WR Ja’Kobi Lane.

Even after losing out on Page in week 4 and Lane due to injuries, the USC Trojans managed to keep up in the SEC. That is mainly because players like QB Jayden Maiava and WR Makai Lemon stepped up for the Trojans when needed. Their defense is not bad, allowing around 22.4 points per game. But that could change very easily, now that Lincoln Riley has confirmed that DT Jamaal Jarrett will miss out on the rest of the season. When asked about the reason, Lincoln Riley explained that Jarrett was undergoing surgery.

“Yeah, Jamaal ended up having to have a season-ending surgery, so he’ll end up missing the rest of the year for us.” Lincoln Riley said on the November 4th episode of USCAthletics. This means Jarrett will join as the 8th member of USC’s injury list, being the fifth defensive player out of action for Lincoln Riley this season.

Jamaal Jarrett has shown potential this season. Arriving from Georgia, the four-star 6’5 360 lbs DT had the task to adjust to USC’s intense physical regime, under DL Eric Henderson. Safe to say, Jarrett seamlessly integrated into his new home. He has 1 solo tackle and 1 interception this season. While those stats may not seem that much, his heroic 70-yard touchdown against Purdue earned him praise for his athleticism.

Even Riley publicly talked about Jarrett’s transition, saying, “Yeah, he’s embraced it (intense physical preparation). We were transparent about it in the recruiting process. That we told him if that was going to be an issue, that this wasn’t going to work here. And he gave us his word that he was ready to be better. And he’s done that so far.”

Now with Jarrett out for the rest of the season, Lincoln Riley will have to think of a defensive solution before his side takes on Northwestern this week.

A B1G battle is brewing for Lincoln Riley this week

News about Jamatt Jarrett’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Lincoln Riley. With the regular season coming to a close, both the Trojans and the Wildcats are battling out for a top-6 finish. With such high stakes, the week 11 game is going to be a must-win affair for both sides. USC has a strong offense this season, averaging around 505.9 yards per game, ranking 2nd in FBS.

Credit goes to Jayden Maiava, who has been a central piece for USC’s offense. With 2,315 passing yards and 15 TDs, Maiava has made the Trojans into an offensive force. Despite his uncharacteristic game against Nebraska, the QB was a Heisman candidate for the majority of the season.

Now, he will look to move past that performance and regain his Heisman aura against Northwestern. Keeping up with him is Makai Lemon, who has 776 receiving yards, along with 6 TDs. Together, the duo has been a menace to defenses in the B1G.

Reports give the Trojans the advantage, with USC coming as the favorite with a 14.5-point spread.