USC football is facing another significant setback on the injury front ahead of their road game against Minnesota. Star linebacker Eric Gentry will be sidelined for the Trojans’ Week 6 matchup due to an injury sustained during the team’s Week 5 win over Wisconsin, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports and 247 Sports. Gentry, the team’s leading tackler this season, has been a crucial player in USC’s 4-1 record.
Head coach Lincoln Riley didn’t provide much clarity this week regarding Gentry’s condition, but his comments during the media presser indicated that Gentry’s status was deteriorating.
“Yeah, ongoing with these guys,” Riley stated, per Nick Schultz of On3 Sports. “Now that we’ve issued an injury report ahead of the game, I’ll probably just stick to that for now.”
Gentry has tallied 30 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss this season. USC needs to quickly adapt to his absence as they prepare for their second consecutive Big Ten matchup on October 5.
### Implications of Eric Gentry’s Injury for USC Football
USC’s season has been a thrilling ride thus far, starting strong with a key victory over LSU and making a notable impact in the Big Ten with their first conference win in Week 5. Riley acknowledged the need to adjust the game plan without Gentry but expressed confidence in other defensive players to fill the void against Minnesota.
“Eric is a very good player,” Riley remarked. “It changes some things—certainly not everything. There may be a few things we won’t do without Eric, but there are also adjustments we might make to utilize the skills of other players.”
Riley estimated that about 80% to 90% of their game plan would remain intact, regardless of Gentry’s absence, and he has faith in the remaining players to step up.
On a positive note, the Trojans will welcome back safety Akili Arnold, who missed the Week 5 game against Wisconsin, as reported by Zenitz.
USC will face Minnesota’s versatile offense at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.
