USC announced Tuesday night that redshirt junior CB/S Josh Pinkard tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will be out for the rest of the 2007 season. He is scheduled to have surgery next week.  Pinkard, who Pete Carroll famously remarked was the best athlete on the team last year, tore the ACL in his other knee last year during a special teams play in the opener at Arkansas. Pinkard said that his present injury is not as severe as last season’s tear, and because it is is second injury, he will be eligible to petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility if he so desires. Pinkard initially suffered a bone bruise the week before the Idaho game, and an MRI showed stable ligaments and fluid in the knee. It wasn’t until Monday’s practice that his knee gave out and he actually tore ligaments. Pinkard is staying positive and, under the circumstances, taking it in stride: “I’ve just got to go through it all again…I’ve been through it before, and I think the second time through will be much easier.” Continue reading for more news from Tuesday’s practice.

• With Pinkard out, CB Cary Harris, who started opposite Terrell Thomas most of last season, will likely continue to fill that role, and Shareece Wright, who made what Carroll called “the two best back-to-back plays by a cornerback in a long time” in the Idaho game, will assume an expanded role in the now thinner cornerback rotation. Carroll told Scott Wolf that Wright’s “focus is already much better than it used to be.”
• LB Brian Cushing rehabbed his sprained ankle on the sidelines Tuesday, favoring his left leg (according to Rivals), but he is expected to practice Wednesday. He has yet to be cleared by doctor’s for the Nebraska game.
• The LA Times is reporting that RB Allen Bradford sat out most of Tuesday’s practice with a bruised knee that he said he incurred against Idaho but did not reveal to trainers until Tuesday. He was scheduled to see a team doctor on Tuesday night.
• Both RB Chauncey Washington (shoulder) and WR Patrick Turner (shoulder) practiced and were cleared to play in Saturday’s game, though Turner continued to wear the “don’t-hit-me” yellow jersey. Carroll declared LB Kaluka Maiava ready to play and said that RB Joe McKnight is now at full speed. Rivals added that McKnight fell to the ground, cursing, during a drill and got up liming, though he stayed in for the next play.
• Drew Radovich, who has spent most of the fall rehabbing from back spasms, is on the verge of winning back his starting right tackle spot, though Carroll said that both he and Charles Brown would play in that spot against Nebraska.
• K David Buehler converted on an extra point and made field goals from 38 and 43. He also, coincidentally, missed from 38 and 43, according to Rivals, though that seems unlikely.
• Former USC WR Jamere Holland formally requested a hearing to grant his full transfer release to Oregon, Tuesday, which, if granted, would allow him to transfer and be eligible without paying his own tuition for a year.

USC’s Pinkard is out for the season (Orange County Register)
Tuesday Insider: Pinkard speaks on another lost season (Rivals, $)
Pinkard to again miss the season (LA Times)
Ex-Trojans receiver Holland requests hearing, hopes to get full transfer to Oregon (LA Daily News)
Pinkard will have surgery and miss entire 2007 season (Daily Trojan)