Joe McKnight injures hand in dorm accident

USC’s backfield took another hit when sophomore running back Joe McKnight suffered cuts and bruises on the middle and ring fingers after a door was closed on his right hand in the team dormitory.

The incident occurred late Wednesday night after the Trojans had returned from an IMAX screening of “The Dark Knight.” Coach Pete Carroll said no horseplay was involved.

“It was just an accident,” Carroll said.

McKnight was unavailable for comment.

Running back Allen Bradford said he and McKnight were standing outside a room talking when the incident occurred. McKnight had inadvertently placed his right hand in the doorjamb, Bradford said, when someone on the other side of the door closed it, trapping and pinching McKnight’s fingertips.

“It happened so fast I couldn’t react,” Bradford said.

Cornerback Shareece Wright was in the room next door.

“I heard him scream and then I saw blood on the floor,” Wright said.

Linebacker Chris Galippo did not witness the incident but said he saw McKnight’s hand. “It was pretty gnarly looking,” Galippo said.

McKnight was taken to the hospital for X-rays, which showed no fractures, an athletic department spokesman said.

Carroll said he did not know if McKnight would be completely sidelined or relegated to a few drills in the next few days. The running back missed Wednesday’s practice because of a skin irritation that has affected numerous players.

“I think he can probably run around,” Carroll said, adding that a hand injury was, “better than doing it on his foot.”

Asked how the Trojans can withstand mounting health issues that include quarterback Mark Sanchez’s knee injury, the skin irritation outbreak, and now McKnight’s off-the-field injury, Carroll said, “We’re unflappable… . It doesn’t even register.”

 gary.klein@latimes.com