Skip to main content

Lincoln Riley provides injury updates on Zachariah Branch, Max Williams

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•10/03/23
Are the USC Trojans in DESPERATION Mode Defensively After Colorado Game? | Caleb Williams Takeover

USC played Colorado without two of its best playmakers, missing wide receiver and electric return man Zachariah Branch and safety Max Williams.

The Trojans are hoping to get both back in short order, with neither injury sounding serious as coach Lincoln Riley discussed them.

“Yeah, both progressing. Both did a lot more today than what they did last week,” Riley said after practice on Tuesday. “So hopeful to be able to have them both. Obviously those are two prominent players for us, and not having Max especially in a game like that where you end up playing a lot of snaps, against a spread, high-tempo offense, that one hurt.”

Branch has been absolutely electric so far this season. As a receiver he has logged 13 catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns, serving as a vital part of the passing game for Caleb Williams and company.

As a return man, he might be even better.

Twice already this season Zachariah Branch has housed kicks, doing so once on a punt return and once on a kick return. He’s got seven punt returns for 158 yards (22.6 yards per return) and six kick returns for 171 yards (28.5 yards per return).

Williams, on the other hand, is a veteran safety who has a ton of production to his name.

So far this season in four games, Williams has recorded 11 tackles, two tackles for a loss, an interception and two pass breakups. But that might not be the most important thing USC is missing with him out, Riley said.

“Just his experience and simply too from a sub standpoint,” the USC head coach said. “We had too many guys that played 90-plus snaps when you start to mention special teams as well. Hope to have them both back healthy long-term, but we’ve got to see how they progress this week.”

USC will be hoping to get both back before the schedule really picks up in the back half of the slate.

Up next for the Trojans is a home date with Arizona, but contests at No. 10 Notre Dame and against No. 18 Utah loom directly after. Top-10 Washington and Oregon squads also stand on the schedule in the final month of the season, so getting Zachariah Branch and Max Williams back healthy as soon as possible will be vital.