USC football: Lineman Jordan Simmons to have season-ending surgery

USC offensive lineman Jordan Simmons will undergo season-ending surgery for a knee injury suffered Monday, interim Coach Ed Orgeron said.

Simmons was injured during a pre-practice drill in which coaches had offensive and defensive linemen compete as receivers and pass defenders. The 6-foot-4, 335-pound Simmons leaped for a ball and landed hard on the turf.

He was carted to the trainers’ table and later carted from the practice facility after being examined by team trainers and a team physician.

Orgeron described the injury Tuesday as “an unfortunate accident” and said it was “kind of a freak deal.”

Simmons, a redshirt freshman who played at Encino Crespi High, played briefly at right guard in place of Aundrey Walker during USC’s 14-10 defeat at Notre Dame last Saturday.

Simmons had knee surgery before the 2012 season.

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