USC Football: Trojans WR Robert Woods Is Becoming a Precautionary Tale

A while back, we took the time to assure USC fans that their star wide receiver, Robert Woods, would be best served sitting out spring, and come summer, he'd be ready to get back on the same page with Matt Barkley and his Trojan teammates. Well, as ESPN reports, it might be after summer before the All-American wide receiver is healthy, if he is healthy for the 2012 season:

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Woods hopes to be ready in a few weeks, although he won't set a specific return date other than "by the time fall camp starts," in the first week of August.

Other than constantly icing his ankle and including more anti-inflammatory foods to his diet, Woods has been frustrated with his lack of rehabilitation options.

"The hard part about it is it's a bone -- it's bone inflammation," Woods said. "There's not much you can really do about it. Icing can only do so much."

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The good news is there is still hope that Woods can return in time for camp. While we know that the receiver is one of the nation's best, it does not make the rising junior immune to needing conditioning, working on timing or testing out his surgically repaired ankle.

That said, Woods is game to tough things out, telling ESPN's Pedro Moura, "I thought about it, the possibility of not being healthy for the season, of still being sore. But then I remembered I was sore all last year and I did OK, so I think I'll be all right."

Kudos to the kid for being up front about playing in pain and being willing to do it again. However, Woods' offseason serves as another cautionary tale in regard to athletes and extracurricular activities.

No, Woods shouldn't be chastised or spotlighted for partaking in a little basketball. However, it is just a case of "what can happen" when players journey into the waters of outside competition.

Everyone understands the risk and it serves more as a "this can happen to you" than a "don't play pick-up sports." As a guy who played basketball and softball during his college-football days, there was always an air of invincibility; Woods' story should help all collegiate athletes remember that injuries can happen, and they are very real. 

We wish Woods a full recovery and hope that while other players are enjoying their summer, they stay safe, always aware of the threat of injury.