Healthy Washington is ready for heavy work day

Chauncey Washington finds it a little hard to believe.

USC’s tailback corps is significantly thinned by injuries, but the senior is not among the hobbled.

Asked Thursday if he considered himself lucky, Washington chuckled and said, “I don’t even want to think about it because it might happen to me.”

Washington, who was plagued by injuries throughout last season and the start of this one, will make his third consecutive start Saturday against Stanford.

With Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable injured, the 6-foot-1, 216-pound Washington is expected to carry the rushing load on a day that also could feature significant playing time for freshman Joe McKnight, sophomore Allen Bradford and seniors Hershel Dennis and Desmond Reed.

“I feel strong,” said Washington, who has rushed for 233 yards and four touchdowns in three games after missing the opener because of a shoulder sprain.

“I don’t know how they’re going to do the rotation, I’m just going to be ready.”

Johnson, the Trojans’ leading rusher, suffered a foot bruise against Washington last week and did not practice this week.

On Thursday, Coach Pete Carroll said, “I wouldn’t rule him out,” for Saturday’s game, but Johnson sounded resigned to a possible return for Arizona on Oct. 13.

“I can’t deal with sitting on the sideline,” Johnson said. “I dealt with that last year, so I’m going to be doing anything I can to get back.”

Gable said he was scheduled to have season-ending abdominal surgery today. The sophomore did not play against Washington and will seek a medical redshirt.

Cornerback Cary Harris, who missed the Washington game because of a shoulder injury suffered against Washington State on Sept. 22, practiced and said a team doctor cleared him to play against Stanford.

“He would like me to stay out one more week but he said, ultimately, it’s up to me,” Harris said. “I want to play but it’s up to Coach Carroll and what they want to do.”

Mozique McCurtis is scheduled to start.

Shareece Wright started in Harris’ place against Washington, but he will not play Saturday because of a hamstring strain.

Center Kris O’Dowd, who had arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday, walked without crutches and said he hoped to return for the Notre Dame game on Oct. 20. . . . Redshirt freshman Zack Heberer appears on track to start at right guard in place of injured Chilo Rachal (knee), but Carroll said a decision between Heberer and Alatini Malu had not been made. . . . Linebacker Clay Matthews (thumb and shoulder) will play against Stanford, but senior Thomas Williams will start again at the strong-side spot. . . . Carroll said after practice that he had not received a response from the Pacific 10 Conference regarding a request to evaluate several penalty calls that were made against the Trojans in the Washington game.

gary.klein@latimes.com