Kessler misses part of USC workout with toe injury

Published Sep. 2, 2014 2:52 p.m. ET

foxsports

LOS ANGELES (AP) Southern California quarterback Cody Kessler missed part of practice Tuesday to undergo a procedure on one of his toes.

Kessler said he'll be fine to play when the 14th-ranked Trojans (1-0) visit No. 13 Stanford (1-0) on Saturday.

''I'm 100 percent. I'm fine,'' Kessler said. ''It was just something bothering me.''

Coach Steve Sarkisian said Kessler was bothered by a toe injury throughout USC's 52-13 victory over Fresno State last weekend. Kessler was named the Pac-12's offensive player of the week after passing for a career-best 394 yards with four touchdown passes and another rushing score.

Sarkisian said Kessler couldn't get the unspecified procedure done on his toe until Tuesday morning.

''He got it cleaned up, and we expect him to be ready to go for the ballgame,'' Sarkisian said.

Kessler is beginning his second season as USC's starting quarterback. He started all 14 games last season as a sophomore, passing for 2,968 yards with 20 TDs and seven interceptions.

Backup Max Browne ran the Trojans' first-team offense at practice in Kessler's absence. The redshirt freshman thinks he would be ready to play extensively if necessary, and USC didn't change its practice plan with Browne under center instead of Kessler.

Browne was considered the top high school quarterback in his graduating class. He got his first game action with the Trojans late in their blowout of Fresno State, going 3 of 4 for 30 yards.

''I feel like I know the game plan,'' Browne said. ''I've been prepared since I got here.''