USC Defense Faces Significant Uncertainty Amid Multiple Injuries and Suspension

USC's defense is facing significant uncertainty heading into Saturday's game against Washington, with linebacker Desman Stephens II suspended and several other defensive players listed as questionable due to injuries.

Stephens has been suspended for the game as a consequence for celebrating a hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, which resulted in Moore sustaining a concussion. The availability of defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren, safety Alex Graham, and defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart is uncertain as they were all listed as questionable in the Big Ten availability report released Wednesday.

VanSumeren sustained what appeared to be a lower-body injury late in the second quarter of USC's recent game against Oregon, requiring assistance to leave the field. Graham missed the Oregon game after an unspecified injury sustained against Rutgers. Stewart, who returned for the Oregon game after missing the first four games with a foot injury, indicated he is still not fully recovered.

Wide receiver Corey Simms remains out for a second consecutive game. Fellow wide receiver Trent Mosley has been upgraded to questionable after missing the last two games with an apparent knee injury.

Coach Lincoln Riley expressed confidence in the team's depth, noting that players who have seen snaps throughout the season will need to step up. "We’ve got a lot of guys that came in and obviously played without him there, that have played a number of snaps," Riley said. "And situations like this are where all the guys that we played in those early weeks, this is where we need to start to see some of the dividends of that."

The potential absences would further challenge a defense that has allowed an average of 35.7 points over its last three games under new coordinator Gary Patterson. USC currently ranks 75th nationally in total defense, giving up 354.8 yards per game, and 100th in scoring defense with 26.4 points allowed per game. The Trojans have particularly struggled against the pass, allowing 236.2 yards per game, ranking 105th nationally, and have recorded only eight sacks, with none against Oregon.

"We’ve got to affect the passer more," Riley added. "You know, we didn’t quite hit them enough, we didn’t squeeze the pocket as much as we would like to. You’re not always gonna get sacks, right? … You can affect the passer in many other ways. So the real answer is we need to be a little bit better at all three levels."

Washington will be without three running backs: Jordan Washington, Jayden LiMarr, and Quaid Carr. The Huskies' available running backs have struggled to gain significant yardage, with Brian Bonner Jr. leading the available players with 42 rushing yards per game.