Oregon St. Injury Update

Oregon St. will be without a couple of members of the regular rotation at DT for a while, and Defensive Coordinator Mark Banker isn't too happy with USC about it.

After announcing that Jalen Grimble will have to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee (scheduled for next Monday), and will miss at least 3-4 weeks, and that Noke Tago's injury is much worse, based on MRIs both players had Monday, probably ending his season, Banker also said "You don't know if it was done on purpose or not, but I just think the technique was questionable. Every offensive line coach in America would say the blocks that injured Grimble and Tago were legal, but it was pretty damn close!"

Grimble was injured on what some believed was an illegal, chop block, where a second lineman blocked below the waist after Grimble was already engaged, while Tago was injured by a legal, but controversial, cut block, where first contact was at the knees.

"I don't know whether they changed blocking technique to help themselves out," Banker said. "We didn't notice them doing that before, I just hope it wasn't intended to be an injury."

Brandon Bennett-Jackson and Ali'i Robins will see increased rotation action in place of Grimble and Tago at DT, and Banker also indicated that Dylan Wynn will be seen even more at DT instead of DE than has been the case so far, which means more action for Obum Gwacham at DE.

The injury news was generally better elsewhere, as guard Grant Bays, LB DJ Alexander, WR Rahmel Dockery, safety Ty Zimmerman, and DT Siale Hautau all returned to practice at some level, and are all expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday at Colorado.

Dockery is listed as the starter at flanker, which means Richard Mullaney will return to his normal split end spot.

WR Victor Bolden is also running routes at practice, though he can't catch a ball until after the sutures are removed from his right hand on Thursday, after having to have surgery to repair a dislocated little finger on his right hand against San Diego St.

"We have him out running around," head coach Mike Riley explained. "We just don't throw him the ball."

Bolden is questionable for Saturday's game against the Buffs, but should be back against Utah.

The other question mark injury wise is rotation safety and special teams player Zach Robinson, who suffered a hamstring injury against USC, and is doubtful for Saturday.

Offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo remains out indefinitely with his foot injury.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com