LOS ANGELES — All-Pac-10 center Kristofer O’Dowd returned to practice Monday, and he plans to play in USC’s game at Ohio State on Saturday.

Whether he does will depend on what happens from here.
O’Dowd, who suffered a dislocated right kneecap Aug. 17, made it through a light practice in which the Trojans wore helmets and shorts.
The true test, USC coach Pete Carroll said, will come when the team dons pads on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Even then, O’Dowd must prove he can regain his chemistry with freshman quarterback Matt Barkley, who worked with Jeff Byers in the season opener against San Jose State.
“We’re not going to play Kris just to play him,” Carroll said. “We’re going to play him because we feel right about it and he’s right and all the exchanges are good.
“We’re fine with the guys that we have. We’d love to get him back, but he’s got to be right. I have no idea how long it takes.”
Although the offensive line excelled in O’Dowd’s absence against San Jose State — paving the way for 342 rushing yards — O’Dowd is eyeing a return to the starting lineup.
“That’s my goal,” he said. “I’m not going to settle for second string. That’s not what I’m shooting for.”
PRYOR ENGAGEMENT
Carroll said his defense will “do everything we can think of” to try to contain Ohio State’s dual-threat quarterback, Terrelle Pryor.
But Carroll conceded that even that might not be enough.
“Not (with) a really good runner like Terrelle Pryor. He can go wherever he wants to go,” Carroll said. “You can say you’re going to keep him in the pocket, but then he just scoots up and gets back out again.
“He’s really got a knack for escaping. You can holler at guys for not containing, and then it doesn’t matter.
“The thing that you hope you do is, when you get your chances, you tackle him. He breaks a lot of tackles. Guys drip off him a lot.
“He doesn’t run over you; he just runs. He’s fast, really strong and really big. He’s difficult to get down.”
NOTES
Defensive tackle Averell Spicer returned to practice after missing several weeks, including the opener, because of a high ankle sprain. Spicer, who wears No. 99, pronounced his ankle “98 percent” healed. ...
Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey missed practice because of an illness. ...
Cornerback Brian Baucham returned after missing last week because of the flu. ...
Tailback Curtis McNeal practiced after leaving the San Jose State game early because of an injured shoulder. ...
Luthur Brown, who became academically eligible late last week, mostly worked as the second-team middle linebacker. ...
Senior quarterback Garrett Green will play the role of Pryor for the scout team this week. ...
Broadcaster Brent Musburger, who will call the USC-Ohio State game for ESPN, watched practice from the sideline. ...
The Trojans practiced on FieldTurf at the campus track stadium to prepare for a similar surface in Columbus. They will practice on grass the rest of the week.