 "Photo: Joshua Sy | Daily Trojan")
Quarterback John David Booty tested his broken middle finger Tuesday, but his status for Saturday's game against Arizona remains uncertain.
Booty threw about 50 passes, but stood and watched as sophomore Mark Sanchez practiced with the first team offense.
"[John David] played almost three quarters of football with this [injury] and threw the ball all over the place, so I'm not surprised that he can throw right now a little bit," coach Pete Carroll said. "Give him a few more days, it's going to be better. We'll have to wait and see how it goes."
Carroll described Booty's status as day-to-day, but indicated a decision would be made by Friday at the latest.
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and Carroll had previously stated they would need to see the senior practice before naming him the starter. Booty echoed that sentiment, saying he can deal with the pain.
"It's just whether or not in the throwing I can be accurate and have velocity on the ball," Booty said.
Tight end Fred Davis, the team's leading receiver with 435 yards and three touchdowns, believes the offense will improve regardless of who starts against the Wildcats.
"We're going to play with a little more edge this week," Davis said. "If it is Mark or Booty, we are going to go out there and we'll be pretty good. We just have to worry about making good decisions right now and doing things right, everything will be OK."
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Center Matt Spanos said he would play Saturday despite badly cutting two fingers against Stanford.
"I'm playing regardless. If it's infected, I'm playing," Spanos said.
Spanos has not practiced the last two days in an attempt to get healthy.
"They are just holding him out to give him as much time as possible to not get jolted while the wound is healing," Carroll said.
The lacerations, which required stitches, come as the senior from Corona, Calif., is still dealing with torn triceps he suffered during training camp.
"I'm apparently not getting the memo," said Spanos of whether this latest injury is an indication he needs to sit out.
Starting left guard Jeff Byers and sophomore Alex Parsons will back him up with Kris O'Dowd out because of a dislocated kneecap.
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Senior linebacker Thomas Williams (ankle) is expected to play, but junior Clay Matthews will also be available after being limited in recent weeks because of a sprained right shoulder and broken thumb.
"If he's healthy, I'm sure we'll be splitting reps," said Matthews, son of the USC All-American and NFL Pro Bowl linebacker of the same name. "As of right now, we'll see how he is doing and if he can be back out here."
"I think Thomas is going to make it back, but we're going with Clay right now," Carroll said. "His shoulder is fine, so he's back to full speed without a thumb."
Matthews played against Stanford after receiving a painkilling injection, but did not record a tackle.
His thumb is still in a hard cast, but Matthews expects to have it off by next week's game at Notre Dame.
"I was supposed to get an X-ray [Tuesday], but I had class," he said.
One area where Matthews could make an immediate impact is on special teams, after blocking a field goal in practice.
"He's got a knack against our guys," Carroll said. "He's got something going here."
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Sophomore running back Stafon Johnson (foot) worked out with trainers, but is still questionable for Saturday.
"He's having trouble getting up on his toes and pushing off and that's what you do when you run," Carroll said. "We'll give him another day or so and see how he is doing."
Freshman Joe McKnight did not practice because of what Carroll termed a stomach ailment.
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After three seasons of stagnant offensive production, Arizona turned to Texas Tech offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes in hopes of energizing its scoring output.
Halfway through his first season in Tucson, Ariz., the air raid approach has been adequate at best. The Wildcats rank No. 5 in the Pac-10, scoring an average of 28.3 points per game.
"We're getting better," Stoops said. "Coach Dykes and his staff have done an excellent job offensively just fine tuning it and getting the little intricacies that you need to be good."
The passing attack, led by junior quarterback Willie Tuitama, has accounted for nearly 307 yards per game. Tuitama ranks No. 9 nationally in completions and No. 11 in yardage, while Dykes' former pupil, Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell, leads both categories.
A pleasant surprise for Arizona has been the emergence of freshman running back Nicolas Grigsby, who has started all three conference games for the Wildcats.
"For a true freshman, the kid really competes at a high level," Stoops said.
A native of Whittier, Calif., Grigsby had a breakout game against Washington State, rushing for 186 yards and adding 78 yards on nine receptions with a touchdown.
"Grigsby has just come on the scene," Carroll said.
"You guys don't know about him yet, but he's a really good running back with a lot of shake and bake and make you miss."
