Lost amidst the grandiose fabrication that became Josh Shaw‘s save-nephew-from-drowning heroics -- and USC’s inexplicable decision to run with what turned out to be a whopper of a lie when they had their doubts -- is a player on the other side of the ball could be out for a while as well.
Over the weekend it was reported that Tre Madden will be a game-time decision for the season opener against Fresno State Saturday. The running back has been dealing with a foot injury, and was seen wearing a walking boot again Wednesday.
The opener could be the least of the Trojans’ worries as the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Madden could be out for a month because of the injury.
If Madden were to miss a month, he’d be sidelined for the opener this weekend, the Pac-12 opener against Stanford the following weekend and Boston College Sept. 13. Following a bye, USC will tangle with Oregon State Sept. 27, which would be the likely return game based on the month timeline.
During the first five games last season, Madden rushed for 583 yards and three touchdowns. The last eight, three of which he didn’t record a carry, Madden totaled just 120 yards and didn’t find the end zone. His 703 yards were second on the team to the 785 yards for Javorius Allen, who figures to be the Trojans’ bell cow in the running game this year.
Should Allen be sidelined as it appears he will be, it would leave Allen and Justin Davis as the only two healthy scholarship running backs on USC’s roster.