Stafon Johnson's Season Likely Over After Serious Lifting Injury

Update: Stafon Johnson left surgery around midnight last night, after doctors worked on him for around seven hours. Johnson is expected to make a full recovery but is unlikely to play again this season.

Earlier: USC's official football blog says the bar slipped out of his right hand and fell at an angle onto his throat. He is now having surgery on his throat. USC says he had a spotter but it was an extremely unusual situation.

Earlier: ESPN's SportsCenter is reporting that USC tailback Stafon Johnson was hospitalized after a lifting accident. A bar apparently fell on Johnson's throat while lifting. Little else is known at this time. ESPN's Shelley Smith said Johnson was coughing up blood and bleeding from the nose, adding that his situation is "very serious" and that possibly he would need surgery.

Head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle, who was within 10 feet of the incident, said he was shocked something like this could happen.

"I've seen players have the bar slip and fall onto their chest, but never in my 25 years of coaching have I heard of someone dropping a bar on their throat," Carlisle said. "We're fortunate he was being spotted."

The bench press is commonly regarded as one of the safest exercises in the weight room, especially with a spotter, Carlisle said. An assistant strength and conditioning coach was spotting Johnson this morning.

Johnson is a senior running back who has found a role as the Trojans' go-to runner in tight situations -- third downs and near the goal line. He tops USC this year with five rushing touchdowns.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-28-2009 @ 9:08PM

hegst said...

I wish him a speedy recovery,

9-28-2009 @ 9:16PM

zodiac killer said...

I wish him well. I had a friend who was benching by himself when he passed out. Lucky for him that the weight was falling forward. It bounced off his chest onto his legs and to the floor. Always have a spotter!

9-28-2009 @ 9:19PM

spikeritz said...

Ouch! Recover soon....Not an SC fan but a fan of the game!

9-28-2009 @ 9:43PM

phoebus61 said...

I've been around the gym for many years and have never seen an accident like this. You always think about it when you are on the bench press. I'm sure he had some heavy weight on the bar. He's very lucky it hit him at an angle and that he had a spotter. Could you imagine if it had hit him on the throat straight on? Probably would have killed him. I wish him a speedy recovery a well.

9-28-2009 @ 10:13PM

Don said...

Wow. I'm a Bruin, but when a student athlete gets hurt like this, your heart sinks. Hope only the best for him and his family.

9-28-2009 @ 10:20PM

Karen Layn said...

My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Johnson, his family, and those close to him. I pray that the surgery is successful in repairing the damage, and that he has a speedy recovery.

9-28-2009 @ 11:20PM

jbarr1091 said...

I wish Stafon a very speedy recovery. Fight on!

9-28-2009 @ 11:30PM

bpmadre said...

Fight On Stafon! The Trojan family is praying for your speedy recovery

9-28-2009 @ 11:59PM

darodoll said...

Stafon needs our prayers right now. I always feel sad and troubled when a player whatever team he represents gets injured. I hope the surgery is successful and that he recovers and can play again.

9-29-2009 @ 12:20AM

mrhgbs said...

From an Oklahoma Sooner fan! Our prayers are with you and a speedy recovery!

9-29-2009 @ 12:24AM

gospeldee2 said...

My prayers are with Stafon Johnson. He is a young man with a bright future ahead of him, whichever route he chooses to take. He is from Dorsey High School and the school is known for having quality young people contribute to society. I am so gald their was a spotter with him and the trainers were right on the spot. FIGHT ON! Stafon.

9-29-2009 @ 1:37AM

Lou said...

The article states that "The bench press is commonly regarded as one of the safest exercises in the weight room, especially with a spotter, Carlisle said. I am a certified personal trainer and from the first day I started lifting I was taught that the bench press is the most dangerous exercises. Why? Because the lifter who maxes out may have sudden and complete failure toward the end of a set and the weight will come crashing down.
Every year there are a handful of lifters, usually teenagers, who are killed while doing the bench press alone who encounter this phenomena and the bar being pressed above their chest, and sometimes neck, comes crashing down on them.
People who do bench presses who max out need to have the utmost respect for this lift. Having a spotter does not necessarily solve the problem. The spotter has to be experienced and take the job very seriously. Many spotters do not understand the danger of the bench press and don't pay enough attention to the person they are spotting. People doing max out bench presses should, more than anyone, take the competency of the spotter very, very seriously.

9-29-2009 @ 2:05AM

Frank and Angela said...

Here's hoping there is no permanent damage. So many arhletes today accomplish their goals by illegal means and when one gets hurt by working hard and doing it the right way its a real shame. Good luck to the young man and all the best.

9-29-2009 @ 8:42AM

Ncaafan09 said...

Who will be a bigger loss Stafon Johnson or Tim Tebow

Take the poll: http://icypolls.com/Sports_stafon%20johnson%20tim%20tebow

9-29-2009 @ 9:03AM

thenextofken said...

A few years ago, I was attempting my max, and the bar slipped out of my hands and landed on my chest. I wasn't using a spotter (yeah, I know, stupid stupid stupid, but a couple of other people there got me out of it. When I suffered no permanent injuries, I felt it for months afterwards.

9-29-2009 @ 9:58AM

Milton said...

My family's prayer for you is a speedy recovery. God bless you.

9-29-2009 @ 3:36PM

robertnoir said...

Stafon Johnson is a great kid, who does everything right. He's a credit to USC. And a credit to all of football. Here's to the speediest of recoveries and may this young man get his chance at the next level.