Makai Lemon started for the USC Trojans against the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, as his side is aiming to continue its winning start to the 2024 college football season. However, the speedy pass catcher sustained an injury early in the game and was subsequently forced off the gridiron.
Let's examine the latest update on the dynamic wide receiver and whether he'll be able to return to the game.
Makai Lemon Injury update
According to Sports Illustrated, Makai Lemon was seen going to the locker room with a minute remaining in the first quarter. Lemon looked shaken as he exited the gridiron to go receive future care away from the watchful eyes of you and me.
USC Trojans fans could be heard uttering words of concern as they hoped for the best regarding one of the most important parts of their 2024 offense.
What happened to Makai Lemon?
At the midpoint of the first quarter, USC Trojans quarterback Miller Moss was sacked by Michigan defensive lineman Josaiah Stewart. USC could not successfully convert a third down and 14 yards, so they elected to punt for the second time in the game.
Trojans punter Eddie Czaplicki punted the ball 59 yards into Michigan's side of the Gridiron, and the Trojans defense attempted to make another stop. However, during the return, Lemon suffered an injury and was aided off the Gridiron by medical personnel.
When will Makai Lemon return?
Lemon will not return to this game due to the nature of his injury. He has been taken to the hospital.
The USC Trojans are reliant on their wide receivers to perform an array of roles in their offense. Hence, Trojans fans will hope that Lemon is okay and able to return to action once he's well-checked and fully recovered.
Impact on USC's Offense: How Makai Lemon's Absence Affects the Team
The impact of Lemon's absence from the USC Trojans offense depends on how long he'll be out due to injury. If he's out for just next week, then his team should get by just fine.
However, if the sophomore wide receiver is out for weeks or months, his team will have some problems. Yes, Josiah Zamora ought to be a comparable replacement. However, Lemon's potential impact on his side's game planning cannot be quantified as the season slowly but surely reaches tricky matchups.
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