With a 3-0 record, it was pretty clear that Lincoln Riley and the Trojans were ready to be contenders. But just when they thought they were gaining momentum, disaster came in waves. The team is facing a massive hole in one specific unit. The reason? Injuries. And after the Purdue game, a 4th player is sidelined and is now out for the entire season.

USC has a cornerback situation that needs to be addressed. Chasen Johnson has injured his knee again, against Purdue, and is out for the season. USC writer Chris Trevino confirmed it on X: “BREAKING: Lincoln Riley announces that CB Chasen Johnson will be out for the rest of the season.” The worst part is Johnson was expected to compete for a starting spot after coming in from UCF. But now his sophomore season ends with just one tackle on the stat sheet. At UCF, he played 452 defensive snaps, finishing with 18 tackles and two pass breakups.

Braylon Conley also left Saturday’s game with a wrist injury. Prophet Brown has been sidelined since lower-body issue caused at fall camp. And there’s no definite timeline of his return. On top of that, freshman Alex Graham is yet to play this season. The depth chart for cornerbacks is now in crisis. DeCarlos Nicholson is the only consistent presence at CB1, with DJ Harvey, Braylon Conley, and Marcelles Williams rotating in and out. But Harvey has not produced as per expectations yet. Conley and Williams are freshmen, still learning the ropes.

Unfortunately, the injury bug has claimed another player. This time on the offense. Riley made it official that USC wideout Zacharyus Williams won’t be back for at least a few weeks, as he suffered an injury at the end of the Georgia Southern game. Riley has been backed into a corner and will need his backups to step up and produce.

Lincoln Riley’s team gets fans support

Trojan fans are going through all kinds of emotions. On one hand, positive messages flooded social media after the news of Johnson’s injury, “Damn. Hopefully a speedy recovery. ✌️✌️✌️” That sentiment perfectly captures the feelings of most Trojan fans right now. And why wouldn’t it? As Chasen Johnson arrived with a lot of hype after transferring from UCF, so it’s tough to see his season end after only two games.

Another fan’s simple “WHAT” sums it up perfectly. As the shock is real because USC was just hitting its stride at 3-0. Now, with Johnson out for the year and other cornerbacks also hurt, it feels like a nightmare for Lincoln Riley’s defense. It’s clear that this sudden news has left fans in disbelief.

Then came in the frustration: “🤦🤦🤦.” As that emoji sequence perfectly captured the Trojans’ collective regret. The worst part is this adds to the already concerning list of injuries that’s becoming a major concern. First Conley’s wrist, then Prophet Brown’s lower body, and now Johnson’s knee. Looks like cornerbacks are cursed this year for USC.

But some fans are also concerned about Alex Graham’s situation. As they put it straight out there, “Can freshmen like Alex Graham provide depth?” It’s a valid question. Because this kid was all ready to shine but ended up in a big hole. Apart from this, the reaction underscores a serious issue: Riley is running out of options, and the room lacks experience.

Finally, this fan sums it all up with a “Damnn.” The cuts right in because it shows USC’s saturation. For fans, it’s not just about a single player. It’s the growing fear that USC’s season might end up being defined by who couldn’t play, rather than what the team accomplished.