BY SCOTT M. REID / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
LOS ANGELES ? Robert Woods was the most famous water boy in America Thursday morning.
"That was my role today, to be there for the team, whether it was water, Gatorade, or calling out the plays," USC's injured All-America candidate wide receiver said of his stint helping out at Thursday's practice. "But it was mental, trying to stay mentally in it."
Whether Woods will physically be in the Trojans' showdown at No. 4 Oregon Saturday night remains a major question mark.
The availability of Woods, unable to practice because of a lingering ankle injury and sore shoulder, will be a game-time decision made after pre-game warm-ups, USC coach Lane Kiffin said after Thursday's practice.
Woods insisted he would be ready for the Ducks. "I feel good to go," Woods said. "I feel like I need to be there Saturday to help this team. We've got a great opportunity and we've got to get that win."
Kiffin, however, didn't sound as confident.
"I don't know," Kiffin said when asked if Woods would play. "I don't know either way."
When asked what he needed to see in the warm-ups for him to give Woods the green light, Kiffin said, "I'm going to have to see speed, that he can go, that he can get in and out of breaks and be able to play at a high level for us."
Kiffin saw none of those things Thursday as Woods, dressed in the normal Thursday practice attire of shorts, jersey, helmet, cleats and no pads, wandered the Howard Jones Practice Field without participating in drills.
"It's 50-50," Woods said of his ankle. "Like some days it feels good, some days it feels bad."
Woods was asked how it felt Thursday?
"Today, I don't know. I didn't get the chance to run on it or anything," Woods said. "The shoulder is aggravated as well. The ankle ... I'm not sure how it feels today."
Kiffin ruled out using an injured Woods as a decoy against the Ducks.
"No because I'm sure they watch the game and see how it's going in warm-ups," Kiffin said. "Just like last week (against Washington) if you watch how the game got going last week and Robert wasn't himself they started moving the safety away from him. (Washington defensive coordinator) Nick (Holt) did a good job of adjusting and was leaving him out there and alone. If you go back to that third quarter, I was trying to get Robert involved and get him some catches there even though he was locked up man-to-man he still wasn't himself."
But Woods insisted he will be close enough to the player who has led the nation in receiving for parts of the season to get on the field Saturday night.
"He has the final word but I feel good enough, ready to go," Woods said referring to Kiffin. "He's the one calling the personnel but you know I'm definitely in his ear trying to get on the field. He's a player's coach and he definitely looks out for his players health-wise, but I feel good enough to go. I'm ready to go Saturday."
And if Kiffin decides otherwise?
"I hope it doesn't go that way but it's up to Kiff," Woods said. "I can't see myself standing on the sideline watching."
INJURY UPDATES
Offensive tackle Matt Kalil (stinger) returned to practice Thursday but on a limited basis. Offensive lineman Aundrey Walker (undisclosed), and safety Demetrius Wright (hip) did not practice. Defensive tackles DaJohn Harris (ankle) and Christian Tupou (knee) had limited practices.
Contact the writer: sreid@ocregister.com
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