LOS ANGELES -- Despite giving the USC football team perhaps the two biggest injury scares of fall camp, the potential starting backfield of quarterback Mark Sanchez and C.J. Gable may be back for next week's visit to the University of Virginia.

Neither participated in Saturday's Cardinal-and-White scrimmage Thursday at the Coliseum, yet both players received boosts from head coach Pete Carroll.

Sanchez suffered a dislocated kneecap less than a week into fall camp. In his absence, Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain have been jockeying for position, combining to complete 18-of-24 passing Saturday for 177 yards.

"Mark's going to be back," said Carroll. "He's going to enter back into the mix on Monday, which is a very big deal.

"If he does all the work and responds well, he'll position himself to be the (starter)."

Gable injured a hip during practice Monday, staying down on the Howard Jones Field turf for more than 10 minutes after being tackled.

"I got a real good report on C.J.," said Carroll. "He felt a lot better. We're hoping in the next couple of days, he'll be back for us."