Entering fall practice, the USC offense had two primary deep threats at wide receiver: Jamere Holland, who decided to transfer to Oregon, and sophomore Travon Patterson, who sustained a broken bone in his big toe during training camp and who, we learned Monday, will undergo surgery and miss the entire 2007 season. He will apply for a medical redshirt, which will likely be granted, making him a sophomore entering camp next fall. Read on for more developments on the Trojans’ nightly butcher’s bill.

• C Kris O’Dowd (dislocated knee cap) will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday (10/2) to remove torn cartilage behind his knee, and he will be out for three to four weeks. OG Chilo Rachal (sprained knee) claimed to be day-to-day, but Pete Carroll predicts the junior will also be out for about three weeks. With Rachal out, Zach Heberer assumed the starting spot at right guard on Monday, but Alatini Malu (strained hamstring) and Thomas Herring will compete for the same spot. OG Butch Lewis, officially probable for Stanford, will miss this week’s game with a sprained ankle, according to Scott Wolf. OL Coach Pat Ruel put a positive spin on things, telling Rivals, “As these injuries go, what normally happens is you get a little rash of them, and then everyone gets healthy, and it’s right at the right time.” As it seems that most of linemen are on track to return for the Oregon game in 4 weeks, the timing of the injuries probably could not have been better.
• RB Stafon Johnson continued to wear a protective boot Monday after his MRI revealed a deep bruise sustained against Washington. He will try to practice on Wednesday but remains day-to-day. C.J. Gable’s status will be clarified on Tuesday. He’s had a chronic groin injury for the past two years which bothers him when it’s cold. If surgery is required to correct the injury, he could possibly miss the entire season and seek a medical redshirt.
• DB Cary Harris (sprained shoulder) looked smooth during Monday’s practice, intercepting two passes. He hopes to be cleared by doctors to face Stanford. Carroll believes he will be. Shareece Wright (hamstring strain) will probably be out Saturday, so if Harris can’t go, Mozique McCurtis will start.
• No timetable has been established for LB’s Brian Cushing and his sprained ankle, but he won’t be rushed. Carroll commented, “We can’t allow him to come back too early this time.” (Rivals)
• Carroll addressed the excessive penalty situation with his players on Monday, but he focused on making good choices rather than dissuading their aggressiveness on defense:  “I love the way we’re playing. We’re flying around, we’re hitting, we’re making all kinds of things happen.”

Carroll laughing off Harbaugh’s comments (LA Daily News)
Injuries continue to pile up (LA Times)
Tuesday notes: USC loses deep threat (Orange County Register)
Injuries to O’Dowd and Rachal will sideline duo for at least three weeks (Daily Trojan)
Monday Insider: Next up on the O-Line (Rivals, $)
Monday Practice Report (WeAreSC, $)