LOS ANGELES — USC defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart was dressed in his uniform for Saturday’s game against Louisiana after missing the first two games of the season due to a foot injury.
He appeared to be a limited participant in pre-game warm-ups and did not take part in individual drills, nor did he play in the first half of the game.
Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley told reporters earlier in the week that he was participating in recent practices and doing well.
“He’s been able to make a lot of progress on the field, in the weight room, from a recovery standpoint,” he said. “He’s really thrived in the last couple of weeks. In a perfect world, you’d love to get him a couple reps before we go into Big Ten play, but it’s got to make sense from a health perspective as well as the schedule.”
Stewart, a sophomore, was second on the team in tackles for loss last season with 7.5 and also recorded 18 total tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Three other key players who were dressed for Saturday’s game included tight end Tucker Ashcraft, defensive end Braylan Shelby and backup quarterback Sam Huard.
“This was a week where it felt like some of the guys that had a few lingering things out of camp have turned the corner a little bit. I don’t know that they all will (play), but they’re all trending well.”
Running back Deshonne Redeaux, an Oaks Christian product who had four carries for 33 yards in the first two games, did not suit up for Saturday’s game. Receiver Roderick Tezeno and linebacker Elijah Newby were also not available.
USC has been working a multitude of players into its rotation throughout the nonconference games to build up depth, and they’ll also need returning players to get through a tough Big Ten season that begins next week at Rutgers.
First-half streak ends
The Trojans defense pitched shutouts in the first half of the first two games this season, but ended that streak against Louisiana.
USC gave up 10 points on a 47-yard field goal and a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the opening half. The defense allowed 74 yards through the air and 44 on the ground in that same time frame.
Tunnel captain
Former USC defensive tackle Rasheem Green served as the tunnel captain for Saturday night’s game and rallied the Trojans as they ran out of the tunnel.
Green, who prepped at Serra Gardena, finished his three-year USC career with 117 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks. He declared for the 2018 NFL Draft after his junior year and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round with the 79th overall pick.
Joint Forces Day
USC gave complimentary tickets to over 5,000 military service members and their families. The team wore military-themed shirts and hats for warmups; players wore camouflaged sweatshirts and coaches wore dark brown shirts and hats.