Pinkard to Start Against Arkansas

USC sophomore Josh Pinkard will start at strong safety in place of injured Darnell Bing against Arkansas, Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday.

“He’s shown nothing but good stuff. He’s ready to go,” Carroll said.

Pinkard worked with the first-unit defense for nearly two weeks because Bing injured his right hip in the season opener against Hawaii.

Carroll, however, held out hope that Bing would return for the top-ranked Trojans’ game against the Razorbacks on Saturday night at the Coliseum. Bing practiced for the first time Thursday but said he still was not sure if he could play.

“If I don’t feel comfortable with it, I would rather sit and wait for the Oregon game” on Sept. 24, Bing said.

Pinkard played on special teams or as a reserve in every game last season and recovered a fumble that led to a touchdown in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma. He made four tackles and forced a fumble against Hawaii.

“Sometimes I have moments where it’s like, ‘Man, I might be starting,’ ” Pinkard said. “Then I just go back to thinking about being prepared, being ready how I was for the Hawaii game. It shouldn’t be too much different.”

Freshman Kevin Ellison also will play in a rotation with Pinkard and starting free safety Scott Ware.

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USC practiced under the lights at the Coliseum this week, but Carroll is hoping his team will benefit from the mock game that was played there in the afternoon during training camp.

“That was a very good first opportunity, but we were piping in crowd noise that day,” Carroll said. “We don’t have to this time.”

A sellout crowd of 92,000 is expected Saturday.

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Freshman linebacker Brian Cushing will miss Saturday’s game because of a dislocated shoulder suffered in practice this week, but he said he hoped to play against Oregon.

He said he did not let team doctors give him a timeline for his return.

“I didn’t want to hear, ‘You’re out for.... ‘ I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Cushing said.

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Cornerback Justin Wyatt, who sat out Wednesday because of swelling around his left eye, practiced and said he felt fine.... Punter Tom Malone (hip) said he was ready to kick against Arkansas. Carroll said fullback Brandon Hancock (ankle) would play but defensive end Kyle Moore (knee) remained questionable.... Linebacker Kaluka Maiava did not practice because of a neck sprain.... Players helped Carroll celebrate his 54th birthday by dousing him with water after practice.