It’s a bye week for the Trojans, who took two days off following Saturday’s win over Idaho in the season opener but returned to practice today (after some members spent the early afternoon visiting patients at USC Women’s and Children’s Hospital). The team held a 90-minute, helmets-only practice session at the track stadium (which has the same FieldTurf that Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium has), which included many developments on the injury front.

Who’s back (or close)…

• Running backs Marc Tyler and Hershel Dennis participated in almost the entire practice session for the first time in weeks. This is the first time Tyler has been cleared for contact as a Trojan (although there were no actual contact drills on Tuesday). Dennis is unlikely to play against Nebraska. Fellow tailback Chauncey Washington is not expected to return to full practice until next week, but he is hoping to be ready for the next game.
• S Will Harris (sprained ankle) was back, working with the second team.
• CB Josh Pinkard (bruised knee) did not practice Tuesday, but expects to return on Wednesday. Note that his currently injured knee is not the same one that he had surgery on last year.
• WR Patrick Turner (pinched nerve) received good news from his doctors and will definitely play against Nebraska. He will probably miss a few more practices, however.
• LB Brian Cushing’s ankle sprain is not serious, and he should be back in time for the Nebraska game as well.
• QB Mark Sanchez is expected to return to practice by the end of the week. So far, he has progressed to tossing a Nerf football.

Who’s out…

• CB Kevin Thomas, still not fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, has decided to redshirt this season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining following this season.
• LB Kaluka Maiava aggravated a hamstring injury during the Idaho game and will be held out of practice until he recovers.
• Although S Taylor Mays did practice, he is scheduled to have X-rays on his wrist.

Other notes…

• You won’t be able to spot Rey Maualuga by the flowing hair during the Nebraska game. He reported back to practice on Tuesday with a major haircut–his very first as a Trojan.
• Alex Parsons is working as the second-team center while Matt Spanos continues to sit with a triceps injury. Spanos is still expected to return as a guard or tackle, since the injury will prevent him from snapping a football for many weeks.
• Although Kyle Moore was expected to start against Idaho, Everson Griffen wound up taking his starting defensive tackle spot (and became the first true freshman to start on the defensive line for USC since 1986). The reason? Moore was 10 minutes late for the team bus on Friday.
• Although they lost a few first-place votes, the Trojans remained ranked atop both the AP and USA Today polls for the second consecutive week. Next opponent Nebraska (which plays Wake Forest on Saturday) moved up to #16 in the AP poll.

Tuesday Insider: The revolving infirmary door (Rivals, $)
Tuesday practice report (WeAreSC, $)
Lateness cost Moore a start (LA Times)
Off week gives Trojans a chance to work out kinks (LA Times)
Football Team Visits The USC Women’s And Children’s Hospital (Official USC site)
USC’s Washington wants to return (OC Register)
Freshman feat for USC DE Griffen (Daily News)