Sloppy scrimmage further muddles USC’s quarterback race

Max Browne took the snap and dropped back for his first pass of the day.

He spied Steven Mitchell Jr. running across the field and unfurled a pass. The ball hit Mitchell’s hands. The ball bounced out of Mitchell’s hands. Ykili Ross pounced.

And so the first pass of the final week of USC’s quarterback competition ended with the ball in a defensive back’s embrace.

Some time after the conclusion of Friday’s practice, slated to be USC’s third scrimmage of training camp, Coach Clay Helton will gather Browne and the young contender, Sam Darnold, to name one the starter. Their performances in USC’s 75-play scrimmage Monday further muddled the decision.

Neither overwhelmed. Browne, a victim of several drops and one bad snap, endured a humbling workout until late in the session. Darnold played steadily but failed to deliver a performance so convincing to make him an obvious choice, which may be necessary for him to win the job over the more experienced Browne.

Browne left immediately after practice to deliver a final class project and was not available to reporters. Darnold said that both have felt pressure as the decision looms.

“Me and Max talk about it all the time,” Darnold said. “When he throws a pick, or I throw a pick, it’s like, let’s go. I’ve got a little window to shine here.”

Browne’s day couldn’t have started much worse. After Mitchell’s costly drop, Browne badly overthrew a receiver on his next pass and Adoree’ Jackson cashed in the opportunity for another interception plus a touchdown return. Browne clapped his hands in frustration. When he jogged to the sideline, he balled his fists and threw them downward.

“Started out rough,” Helton said.

Browne’s passing improved. His luck did not. His third pass also thudded off Mitchell and was almost intercepted by Jackson.

Browne also had a touchdown pass called back because of an ineligible-man-downfield penalty and a would-be two-point conversion bobbled and surrendered for a third interception.

A clean two-minute drill salvaged Browne’s practice. He moved the ball efficiently, marshalled the offense and preserved a timeout until he could use it before an easy field-goal attempt.

“That’s a lot of vet moves right there,” Helton said. “That two-minute drive, I thought he worked almost to perfection.”

Including two-point conversions, Browne completed seven of 14 passes with one touchdown and three interceptions. Darnold was quiet but avoided mistakes, completing eight of 13 passes, two for touchdowns. His final pass was a long strike to Velus Jones Jr. for a score.

Helton has not updated either quarterback on the oscillations in the competition since camp opened, Darnold said.

“You can definitely say that me and Max are both stepping on the gas a little bit,” Darnold said. “We’re trying to get that spot.”

Jefferson nears return

Defensive tackle Noah Jefferson, who has not participated in training camp because of a back injury, “actually did a lot of work” with a trainer while his teammates practiced Monday, Helton said.

Jefferson received an epidural late last week for pain relief after an MRI on Jefferson’s back came back clean, Helton said. Helton hopes Jefferson will participate in individual drills starting Tuesday.

Helton said Jefferson “really felt good today.”

Jefferson’s absence has further damaged an already haggard defensive line corps. Jefferson’s only start last season was in the Holiday Bowl, but that alone qualifies him as one of the most experienced players on the defensive line.

‘Reality check’

Helton gathered the team at midfield after practice and told them Friday’s scrimmage was a “reality check,” particularly for the offense, which turned in a sloppy performance.

Darnold said the game simulation, with the coaches on the sideline instead of directing the offense on the field, contributed to the hiccups.

“We see today that we need to pick it up,” receiver Deontay Burnett said.

Quick hits

Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (toe and ankle) played without limitations. … Linebacker Quinton Powell (neck) and offensive tackle Chad Wheeler (foot) did not practice. … Kicker Matt Boermeester made 10 of 13 field-goal attempts, seven of nine from 35 yards or longer.

zach.helfand@latimes.com

Twitter: @zhelfand