USC's Sanchez dislocates kneecap, will start rehab MondayUSC starting quarterback Mark Sanchez was carted off the field at Friday's practice in Los Angeles with a dislocated kneecap.
Sanchez's knee will be immobilized over the weekend and he will start rehab on Monday, USC sports information said in a release. He is listed as day-to-day.
Sanchez's father Nick told ESPN's Shelley Smith on Saturday that Mark joked he was going to practice the day after the injury, but the news was the best they could have expected.
There was no scructual damage, and Ron said Mark's kneecap is very sore. Ron said his son could be out one to four weeks, depending on how he responds to treatment.
"They put it back in [on the field]," USC coach Pete Carroll said Friday of Sanchez's kneecap. "There are no other complications. It's a day-to-day deal. We'll wait and see. He's real encouraged and the doctors are, too.
"On the other side of this, it's an extraordinary opportunity for the other quarterbacks to jump in and fight for the job. "
Sanchez collapsed to the ground in obvious pain before the Trojans began stretching drills.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Sanchez was doing a footwork drill before throwing a pass, putting weight on his left knee and falling to the ground. He was later wheeled off the field before undergoing X-rays.
"I landed awkwardly when throwing," Sanchez said. "[The dislocation] is pretty clean. Nothing torn and no cartilage problems. It's the best case scenario.
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"I feel good about the other guys being able to fill in. It'll be a seamless transition. They'll do well.
"It was scary, frightening at first. The way they say these things happen, it could be a lot worse. It just hurt a lot when it happened, but it feels better now."
With starter John David Booty injured last season, Sanchez played seven games and started three, completing 60.5 percent of his passes (69 of 114) for 695 yards. He threw seven touchdowns with five interceptions.
Sanchez, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior, won the starting job this spring over 2006 Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain.
Mustain transferred from the Razorbacks after the 2006 season amid controversy surrounding Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, who resigned from Arkansas after the 2007 season.
The Trojans were ranked second in last week's USA Today preseason coaching poll behind the Georgia Bulldogs.
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He could miss the OSU game. Luckily no structural damage.
