Injuries Testing Defensive Depth

USC could be missing two starting linebackers on Saturday at Arizona when the second-ranked Trojans continue their bid to secure a berth in the Sugar Bowl.

Junior Matt Grootegoed, who sat out the last two games because of a high ankle sprain, did not suit up for practice on Tuesday. He said he was scheduled to see a doctor Tuesday night and have an MRI exam today at 5:30 a.m.

“It seems like it’s not getting any better,” said Grootegoed, a Butkus and Lombardi award semifinalist who suffered the injury on Oct. 11 against Stanford. “Practicing last week kind of irritated it.”

Senior Melvin Simmons was held out of most drills again because of a lower-leg injury he declined to specify.

Simmons said he had an MRI exam a few weeks ago but asked the doctors not to tell him the exact nature of the injury, “so I can will myself to come back.”

Sophomore Dallas Sartz is likely to start his third consecutive game at strong-side linebacker in place of Grootegoed.

Coach Pete Carroll said junior Bobby Otani, redshirt sophomore Colin Ashton or freshman Salo Faraimo might play the weak-side spot if Simmons is unavailable or limited.

Faraimo worked extensively with the first group on Tuesday.

“All the guys are just so experienced, I’m just trying to keep up,” Faraimo said.

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Senior center Norm Katnik, redshirt freshman tight end Kurt Katnik and freshman center Ryan Kalil are sons of former Arizona centers.

The Katnik brothers’ father, Norman, played for the Wildcats in 1978 and 1979.

“My Dad is still a huge U of A basketball fan,” Norm said. “But rooting for their football team kind of went out the window when I came here.”

Kalil’s father, Frank, played at Arizona in 1980-82.

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Arizona ranks last in the Pacific 10 Conference in multiple categories, among them scoring offense (17.4 points a game), scoring defense (35.6), total offense (304.3 yards) and total defense (444.9).

Arizona kickers have made only two of 10 field-goal attempts.

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Sophomore tailback Hershel Dennis did not practice because of illness and received intravenous fluids.... Tailback Chauncey Washington remains sidelined because of an ankle injury he suffered initially against Hawaii. The injury had been diagnosed as a sprain, but Carroll said it is now being termed a stress fracture.... USC leads the Pac-10 in home attendance, averaging 74,947 for four games. The Trojans have home games remaining against UCLA, which is a sellout, and Oregon State. The school record for home attendance is 76,063 set in five games in 1988. USC has averaged more than 70,000 six times.