Lua’s Knee Injury Is Not as Bad as Feared

Oscar Lua heard a pop in his left knee and thought his season was over.

Again.

Lua, the starting middle linebacker for top-ranked USC, had already come back from major surgeries on both knees during his career.

So when he was injured on a kickoff during Saturday’s victory over Stanford, the fourth-year junior quickly assumed the worst.

“I was ready to say, ‘OK, maybe this thing isn’t for me,’ ” Lua said Monday.

Lua, however, received good news when results from an MRI exam were negative. He said he only strained a ligament and could return to practice by Thursday, which could put him on track to play, and possibly start, against California.

If Lua cannot return to full speed, Coach Pete Carroll said Thomas Williams would probably start at middle linebacker. But with Williams resting a sore groin Monday, freshman Rey Maualuga worked with the first unit and said he would be ready to start if necessary.

“I’m ready to step in and take his spot,” Maualuga said. “I’m very confident in my play-calling abilities and my checks.”

Maualuga was demoted to the scout team last week after he was arrested and booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery for allegedly punching a man during a party. He is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 22.

Maualuga, however, played in the second half against Stanford and made five tackles.

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s office is awaiting a report from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding the alleged incident, a city attorney’s spokesman said.

Said Maualuga: “I haven’t forgotten about it, but I just put everything on the side and come to practice.”

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Carroll said he prepped his players about the questions they would be asked this week about USC’s game at Cal in 2003, a triple-overtime defeat that preceded the start of what is now a 31-game winning streak.

“Most of these guys weren’t even around,” Carroll said. “Most of them don’t even know what we’re talking about.”

Just fewer than half the players listed on the 102-player roster in USC’s media guide were in the program in 2003.

Carroll said the Trojans do not have anything to prove, but acknowledged that, “it would be nice to stop the questions.”

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Running back Reggie Bush did not participate in most drills. Carroll said Bush was not injured, but was, “just banged up.” ... Senior tight end Dominique Byrd, who sat out the Stanford game because of a hip injury, is expected to return against Cal, Carroll said.... Linebacker Keith Rivers (hamstring) did not practice but performed conditioning drills.... An MRI exam revealed that freshman safety Will Harris injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Stanford, Carroll said. The extent of the injury will be determined today.