When Mark Sanchez’s status for the season opener was up in the air, USC wasn’t sure about its backup quarterback plan.
Now, with Sanchez again nursing a knee injury, Mitch Mustain is ready to step in if necessary.
Mustain has made major strides since training camp, when he lost a battle with Aaron Corp to be Sanchez’s backup.
Mustain, a transfer who went 8-0 for Arkansas as a freshman in 2006, dropped as low as fourth on the depth chart before rising to second for the Oregon game thanks to a strong week of practice.
“He’s gotten more comfortable with the offense,” USC coach Pete Carroll said Monday. “He just changed. He just shifted. It was obvious.
“I don’t know exactly how to tell you that came about, but it did. It was really great to get him in the game, too.”
The circumstances weren’t ideal. Sanchez was forced to leave last Saturday’s game against Oregon after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee. He already was wearing a brace on the knee after dislocating it in August.
Mustain completed 5 of 8 passes for 111 yards with one touchdown and one interception, mostly in the fourth quarter of USC’s 44-10 victory. Mustain would start this Saturday against Arizona State if Sanchez can’t.
Sanchez watched Monday’s practice from a cart. He said afterward that he felt better than the day before and hoped to practice as early as Tuesday. But he might not be able to practice until doctors re-examine his knee Tuesday evening.
“I feel like there’s definitely a shot to play Saturday, and I definitely want to get back,” Sanchez said. “It’s too fun not to be back.”
Sanchez passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns against Oregon to earn his third Pac-10 Player of the Week award of the season.
Asked whether Sanchez would play this week, Carroll said: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t think anybody knows yet.”
