USC football: All-American safety Taylor Mays managing knee injury

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Taylor Mays, USC’s All-American safety, returned to the starting lineup and made four tackles in the Trojans’ 27-6 victory over Washington State.

Mays wore a brace to protect the right knee sprain he suffered two weeks ago at Ohio State, an injury that forced him to sit out last week’s loss to Washington in his hometown of Seattle. “He did the things he needed to do to get back on the map,” Coach Pete Carroll said.

Afterward, Mays sounded as if he was still playing a bit tentatively because of the injury.

“It was a little tough to go to my left -- I don’t know if it was mental or physical,” he said. “I have another whole week until next Saturday [against California], so I should be ready to go.”

-- Gary Klein