Nunn Breaks Thumb, but He Plans to Play

Ronald Nunn, USC’s starting left cornerback, broke his right thumb during practice Tuesday, but said he will play Saturday against Colorado.

Nunn suffered the injury as he tried to strip the ball from receiver Mike Williams during a drill. X-rays revealed a broken bone and Nunn was fitted with a cast that encases his hand up to his forearm and must be worn for six to eight weeks.

“They’re just going to put some padding around it so I can’t use it as a weapon,” Nunn said.

The broken bone is the third injury Nunn has suffered since arriving from San Francisco City College.

He nursed a hamstring strain through much of training camp but still won the starting spot after senior Kevin Arbet suffered a season-ending foot injury.

Nunn suffered a hip pointer in the opener against Auburn during a pile-up after a fumble on Auburn’s first series. He played the first half but was replaced by freshman Justin Wyatt for the second.

Tuesday morning, Nunn said he was fit. For an hour or two after injuring his thumb, he was not sure of his status.

“I knew something was wrong because immediately a big old knot came up and I couldn’t move it in any direction,” Nunn said. “They said if it was any higher on my thumb they would have had to put some pins in there.”

Nunn said the cast could prevent him from intercepting a pass, but not deflecting one.

“As long as the receiver doesn’t catch the ball, I’ll be doing my job.”

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Freshman linebacker Oscar Lua was carted off the field after he was kicked in the right shin, but X-rays were negative.... Running back Justin Fargas participated in light drills but remains slowed by a strained right hamstring. Fargas missed the opener and wants to play Saturday. “I think it’s going to come all the way down to the game to make a decision,” he said.... There are no players from Colorado on USC’s roster. Colorado features 20 Californians.