USC Loses Wheeler For Season With Knee Injury

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Southern California left tackle Chad Wheeler will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his right knee.

USC coach Steve Sarkisian disclosed the extent of Wheeler's injury Sunday.

Sarkisian says Wheeler tore the ACL in his knee on the third play of USC's 24-21 loss to Utah on Saturday night, but stayed in the game for several more plays.

Wheeler is a 6-foot-7 redshirt sophomore from Santa Monica who has started all 22 games for USC (5-3, 4-2 Pac-12) over the past two seasons. He won the starting job on the thin offensive line and emerged as a leader this fall.

Aundrey Walker took over at left tackle. He will remain at the spot this week, Sarkisian says.

Wheeler's loss is likely to be felt hard by a Trojan line still plagued by NCAA sanctions, which have limited the depth on the line on both sides of the ball.

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