USC

Freshman quarterback Jason Thomas won’t practice for the next week to 10 days as doctors try one more approach with the soreness in his surgically repaired left ankle.

If rest and anti-inflammatory medication don’t help, arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue is probably the next step, Thomas said, and that would almost certainly mean a redshirt season.

“I’m so frustrated. To be healthy, I’d do anything,” Thomas said. “These guys haven’t seen what I can do.”

He’ll still be in uniform on the sidelines Sunday in the Pigskin Classic against Purdue as the emergency quarterback if Mike Van Raaphorst and Carson Palmer were both knocked out.

“I’ll be suited up and everything, but I don’t know what emergency we could have to put a hurt player in,” Thomas said. “I’m not anywhere near ready for the speed of the college game.”

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USC’s 11:30 a.m. practices this week are no coincidence.

The Pigskin Classic game is also at 11:30 a.m., and the Trojans ought to be well acclimated.

“It’s such a strange game time,” Coach Paul Hackett said.

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Among USC’s concerns against Purdue is turnover margin. The Boilermakers were plus-14 last season, best in the Big Ten and ninth in the nation.

“They pressure teams on defense, and they knock the ball out of the quarterback’s hands, out of the runner’s hands,” Hackett said.

Purdue had 12 fumble recoveries and 23 interceptions last season. The Boilermakers’ opponents recovered only four fumbles and made 17 interceptions.

“This team also blocks kicks, blocks them from the outside, and they’re fast,” Hackett said.