Trojans receiver Steven Mitchell still recovering from surgeries

USC receiver Steven Mitchell is working his way back onto the field — and he is attempting to overcome more than the major knee surgery that sidelined him last season.

Since spring, Mitchell has undergone two surgical procedures for a groin issue.

The first forced the redshirt freshman to sit out the final three weeks of spring practice. A second procedure was performed during the summer.

Mitchell has struggled to regain the burst that made him a highly sought recruit at Mission Hills Alemany High. Coach Steve Sarkisian had not spoken of the surgeries with reporters when discussing Mitchell’s progress during training camp.

But on Wednesday, Sarkisian told the Los Angeles Times the combination of injuries and surgical procedures had limited Mitchell.

“When you don’t have the chance to run and you’re rehabbing a knee, then you are rehabbing your groin and you’re not really physically doing leg activities, your strength just isn’t the same,” Sarkisian said. “He’ll get it back and he’ll be fine.”

Mitchell was not among players made available to the media on Wednesday.