It appears it’s safe for Trojan Nation to breathe again.
This past weekend, both star wide receiver Marquis Lee and the presumptive frontrunner to start at quarterback for USC, Max Wittek, went down in practice with knee injuries. While both players will likely be sidelined through at least the rest of this week and into the weekend, it doesn’t appear either suffered any long-term damage that will have an impact on the 2013 season.
Wittek confirmed that he suffered no tears in his right knee, which he injured while serving as the holder on kicks. The official diagnosis? A sprained MCL.
He did allow, though, that the situation was unsettling to say the least.
“I got scared,’' Wittek told reporters following practice. “Obviously it was my knee, and I’d never been hurt like that before. I was pretty scared at first, but once I got to the sideline and rested it up a little bit, it started feeling a lot better. The swelling went down the past couple days. It’s looking very positive.”
Wittek was not in uniform and did not practice Tuesday. Lee was in uniform and participated in warmups, but did not take part in practice drills as he was off lifting weights with other injured teammates.
For his part, head coach Lane Kiffin said neither player suffered a serious injury. The Trojans will practice Thursday and Saturday before taking a one-week break; Kiffin said both players are expected to return when practice resumes March 26.