Starting quarterback Mark Sanchez injured his left knee during warmups at the start of USC’s third training-camp practice today.
Onlookers said Sanchez was throwing the ball to teammate Clay Matthews, hopped after completing the toss, landed awkwardly on his foot and twisted his knee.
“He was all by himself,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “It was a silly thing that happened.”
Carroll did not know the severity of the injury but said he hoped to have news sometime tonight. About 6:25 p.m., offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said a doctor was on his way to examine Sanchez’s knee and give a preliminary diagnosis.
About a half-hour after practice, Sanchez emerged from an SUV on crutches with a large black brace on his left knee. He used the crutches to slowly make his way into the USC locker room.
Carroll said the team was shaken at first after Sanchez went down before settling into a groove.
Sophomore transfer Mitch Mustain took most of the reps with the first team, with redshirt freshman Aaron Corp (Orange Lutheran High) working with and against the “twos.” But when asked who his starting quarterback would be right now with Sanchez out, Carroll said: “I don’t know.”
Mustain and Corp are the only two other scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. Sarkisian said receiver Garrett Green, who has some QB experience, likely would get some reps as the third quarterback.
