Suspended USC linebacker is being investigated in sexual assault

Osa Masina, the linebacker who has been the subject of criminal inquiries and USC-administered discipline this week, clipped on his chin strap Tuesday and trotted onto USC’s practice field.

Masina is under criminal investigation in Utah for an alleged sexual assault that occurred near Salt Lake City, a local police spokesman said Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said Masina is under investigation in Los Angeles for an unspecified incident.

Monday, Coach Clay Helton announced that Masina had been suspended for USC’s opening game against Alabama on Saturday for “a violation of team rules.” And before that, on Thursday, Masina had been served a search warrant on USC’s campus.

But no charges have been filed against Masina. He still practiced with the team in its first practice this week.

Masina’s presence, and the parallel investigations, roiled what has been a quiet preseason for USC.

By Tuesday, it was not yet clear if the two investigations were linked. The inquiry in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, stems from an alleged sexual assault “that occurred in our city last month involving Osa Masina,” said Lt. Dan Bartlett, a spokesman for the Cottonwood Heights Police Department.

Bartlett said the police department is “working with LAPD,” but he declined to elaborate.

A spokesman for the LAPD declined to comment on the nature of the LAPD’s allegation or on the department’s involvement with its counterpart in Utah.

Helton provided few details after Tuesday’s practice, citing “privacy laws and the rights of those involved.”

Asked about the nature of Masina’s suspension, Helton said only, “I’m not allowed to answer that question. But I respect your question.”

Helton did say Masina’s suspension could extend beyond Saturday’s game. He indicated the school would determine Masina’s disciplinary status, and not Helton.

“Really, as a coach, you’re taken out of it,” Helton said. “This is a university matter and a university policy, and I’m confident in the guidance of the university here, so they’ll let me know.”

Regarding Masina’s return, he said, “I don’t have a crystal ball with it, but I’m very confident in their guidance on what to do moving forward.”

Masina was not expected to start, but he played significant time last season as a freshman backup linebacker. He participated in individual drills Tuesday but stood on the sideline during team sessions.

Quarterback Max Browne called the looming investigations “tough.”

“But at the end of the day, we’ve had distractions in the past, and I’ll leave that to Coach Helton to address,” Browne said.

Wheeler progresses

Injured left tackle Chad Wheeler, who will not start against Alabama, practiced with a special steel insert in his shoe Tuesday to help ease the pain from plantar fasciitis.

“He actually went through individual and got a team session,” Helton said. “Obviously, he’s not ready for an entire game, but we’ll see how he progresses and see if he can help us in this game. That’s going to be the decision.”

Helton had announced Monday that Chuma Edoga would start at left tackle. Edoga, a sophomore who made two starts last season, will be tested early. Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen might be the best player on a loaded Crimson Tide defense.

Wheeler, who has 34 starts, is the most experienced player on USC’s offensive line.

Quick hits

Helton said players voted on team captains Sunday. He will announce the results to the team Wednesday before announcing it publicly shortly afterward.

zach.helfand@latimes.com

Twitter: @zhelfand