Josh Shaw Injures Ankles Not Rescuing Drowning Nephew

PLEASE SEE UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ARTICLE.

USC cornerback Josh Shaw begins his season on injured reserve, and his nephew is thankful.

CBS Sports is reporting Shaw injured both ankles rescuing his nephew from drowning. According to a school release, Shaw, a starting cornerback for the Trojans, was named one of team’s six captains on Saturday afternoon. He was out celebrating with family members in his hometown of Palmdale, California. Shaw looked down from a second-story balcony and saw his nephew, who could not swim, in the pool in distress. Shaw then jumped from the balcony onto the concrete below, injuring his ankles. Shaw then crawled to the pool, got in and, despite the intense pain in his legs, was then able to grab the ladder and lift himself out of the pool with his upper body, saving his nephew.

“I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew,” Shaw said on Monday. “My ankles really hurt, but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world. I am taking my rehab one day at a time, and I hope to be back on the field as soon as possible.”

NFL.com reports that Shaw was taken to the hospital and suffered high ankle sprains on both legs, which will sideline him indefinitely, the school announced. His nephew was “traumatized” but okay after the incident, per the USC release

“That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside,” Steve Sarkisian said. “But that’s the kind of person he is. It is unfortunate that he’ll be sidelined for a while and we will miss his leadership and play, but I know he’ll be working hard to get back on the field as soon as possible.”

Shaw is considered one of the top defensive backs in the country and was set to anchor the Trojans’ secondary as a fifth-year senior. He started all 14 games last season and played both cornerback and free safety after transferring to the program from Florida in the spring of 2012. He played cornerback and strong safety in his first season with the Trojans.

USC opens its season Saturday against Fresno State.