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USC Football Fall Notebook - Robert Woods Returns To Field

James Santelli |
August 19, 2011 | 9:31 p.m. PDT

Senior Sports Editor

Woods said he was "shocked" by how long his ankle injury lingered. (Shotgun Spratling)
Woods said he was "shocked" by how long his ankle injury lingered. (Shotgun Spratling)
USC wide receiver Robert Woods returned to the practice field Friday afternoon after missing the Spring Game and much of fall camp with an injury to his right ankle.

The sophomore wideout said his ankle felt very good, even in full-contact 11-on-11 drills.

"It felt better today," Woods said. "They had me on the treadmill about an hour to test it out. I was supposed to do just a couple drills today and it felt good, so they let me keep going."

The ankle seemed to bother him while walking up to the line between plays, as he seemed to favor his left leg. But once the ball was snapped, it was back to action.

"I'm not babying it," Woods said. "Some routes I do favor one ankle. But other than that, I'm out here full speed."

Woods, who is expected to be quarterback Matt Barkley's number one target this season, suffered the injury during a basketball game this past spring.

Head coach Lane Kiffin had previously expressed his concerns about his receiver missing so many practices.

"We need to get him back out here to get the timing down and get himself right," Kiffin told the media on Thursday.

But on Friday, Woods didn't think he was behind on the timing of the rest of the offense.

"I felt like I picked up on the plays but felt like I was a little out of shape in the two-minute drill so I've got to get back in shape and ready to go."

Woods feels ready for game action, including the team's scrimmage on Sunday, but his activity on the field this weekend is "up to coach Kiffin."

The Trojans will return to practice at Brian Kennedy Field on Saturday morning at 8:45 a.m.

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