Mark Sanchez's injury not as bad as feared
USC FOOTBALL FYI
Junior quarterback is diagnosed with a dislocated kneecap and hopes to return in time for the Trojans' Aug. 30 opener at Virginia.
The window of opportunity might not be as large as it initially appeared to be, but USC quarterbacks Mitch Mustain and Aaron Corp intend to take full advantage of their chance to compete for the starting job in Mark Sanchez's absence.
Sanchez crumpled to the ground during pre-practice warm-ups on Friday, igniting speculation that he might have suffered a season-ending knee injury.
But Sanchez was diagnosed with a dislocated kneecap and the fourth-year junior hopes to return in time for the Trojans' Aug. 30 opener at Virginia.
"Mark's injury is not as bad as a lot of people feared it was, so we'll take the reps until he gets back and we'll see what happens then," Mustain said today. Corp said he would keep the attitude he adopted on Friday after Sanchez went down. Corp passed for three touchdowns in the Trojans' final drill.
"I'm happy for Mark that the injury is not as serious as it could have been," Corp said. "But my thinking hasn't changed at all. I'm still going to compete for first team reps.
"It's the same kind of opportunity, just shortened a little I guess."
Sanchez, who will begin rehabilitation on Monday, watched the Trojans' morning walkthrough from a golf cart with his left leg elevated. He said his knee felt better and that he was mostly encouraged by dozens of phone calls and text messages from well-wishers and others who wanted to relay recovery stories.
"I'm hoping mine will be like all the shorter ones I heard," he said.
Asked if he had a sleepless night, Sanchez said he had dozed in the MRI exam machine after he was injured.
"I woke up and thought I was in a bad dream," he said. "I was like, 'No!' And then it all sunk back in and I was like, 'Man.' But it could be a lot worse. I should be thankful."
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Receiver Garrett Green attended quarterbacks meetings and will work at the position until Sanchez returns. . . . Running back Marc Tyler will not practice because of concussion symptoms.
gary.klein@latimes.com
