Smith Is Doubtful He’ll Play

Having played the last few weeks with a patchwork receiving corps, USC quarterback John David Booty is excited by the prospect of having Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith back in the lineup together.

“Oh yeah, I love when those guys are on the field,” Booty said. “It just makes me feel so much better, my confidence level.”

But it might not happen Saturday against Arizona State.

While the USC coaches have been optimistic about Smith’s returning from an ankle injury, the receiver wasn’t so sure after Thursday’s practice.

He went to the sideline about halfway through drills to have the ankle rewrapped and said afterward: “It’s doubtful, in my mind.”

At least Jarrett said his injured shoulder feels significantly better.

“It still aches slightly,” he said. “But I’ve got range of motion.”

After catching 11 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the home opener against Nebraska, Jarrett separated the shoulder at Arizona the following week. He said he caught a short touchdown pass with the joint still out of place, then popped it back himself.

Missing the rest of that game and the next was so frustrating that he tried to return too soon against Washington at the Coliseum last week.

Several times, the All-American failed to reach passes he might usually have caught. He finished the afternoon on the bench.

“It wasn’t about me being rusty, it was painful,” he said. “I couldn’t get my arm up to get the ball.”

If nothing else, Coach Pete Carroll said his absence gave sophomore Patrick Turner a chance to step up. And Turner did, catching a career-best 12 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown against the Huskies.

This week, Jarrett will play with a special pad to protect the shoulder he said feels about 80% healed.

That’s enough for Booty.

“As long as he’s in there,” the quarterback said, “I’m going to try to get him the ball.”

*

Carroll seemed equally excited about the health of tailback Chauncey Washington.

Washington battled a hamstring injury in training camp and has been able to practice at full speed only the last two weeks.

Alternating in the backfield with freshman Emmanuel Moody, he led the team in rushing the last two games against Washington State and Washington and has rushed for 292 yards and two touchdowns this fall.

“It’s like we’ve been through preseason with Chauncey and now he’s ready to go,” Carroll said. “He feels so much better.”

*

Carroll said that offensive lineman Chilo Rachal, who participated in the early part of practice, would start against Arizona State if his injured ankle does not flare up today.... The offensive coaches have spent this week experimenting with ways to make use of Allen Bradford, the tailback who has also practiced at defensive back and fullback this season.... Kevin Thomas and Cary Harris continue to battle at the cornerback spot opposite Terrell Thomas. Coaches said both would get significant playing time on Saturday.

david.wharton@latimes.com