Week 2 of the NFL preseason gave a handful of former USC players a chance to show where they stand, and for some of them, the work was more about flashes than full-time production. Caleb Williams got only a brief look, Marshawn Lloyd found the end zone, and a few lesser-known Trojans kept pushing to climb the depth chart.
Williams was one of the biggest names to see the field, even in a limited role for the Bears. He didn’t get much time to settle in, but the tape still offered a reminder of what makes him dangerous.
His explosiveness showed up, and he delivered one strong throw. There was also a rough miss in the mix, but he still finished 2-for-5 for 28 yards total.
Marshawn Lloyd turned in one of the cleaner stat lines among the former Trojans. The Packers running back logged 6 carries for 17 yards and added 1 catch for 11 yards that went for a touchdown. It was the kind of outing that showed the versatility Green Bay liked when it drafted him in 2024, and the fact that he’s healthy matters too.
Lake McRee also helped himself with a solid receiving performance for the Steelers. He had one drop, but outside of that, he made the most of his chances and led Pittsburgh in receiving. McRee finished with 2 catches for 46 yards, including a 23-yard grab that showed he can threaten down the field.
On the defensive side, Eric Gentry got his first NFL stat line with the Bengals. The undrafted free agent recorded 3 tackles and showed the kind of versatility that can keep him in the conversation as roster decisions tighten up. He still has work to do if he wants to make the Bengals, but he put something on film that can help him make a case for the practice squad.
Chris Roland Wallace also made noise with the Chiefs. With Kansas City having lost two starting corners this offseason, the path is open for new faces to step in, and Wallace took advantage.
He posted 3 tackles and a pass deflection, giving himself a real shot to keep building momentum. Another strong performance in Week 3 could matter a lot for his role this season.
Jaylin Smith did his part for the Texans as well. He finished with 3 tackles and a pass deflection while continuing to fight for a place in the secondary rotation. Houston already looks loaded on defense, and Smith’s play only adds to that depth.
Mekhi Blackmon was productive on the stat sheet with 3 tackles, but his preseason has come with problems. He’s had issues with penalties, and the source of that frustration is clear: he’s already been flagged 4 times in 2 games. Blackmon is in line to start early because of injuries for the Colts, but those mistakes are taking a hit on the confidence he built last season.
Ja'Kobi Lane’s preseason action was brief, but he still managed to get on the board with 1 catch for 9 yards before his day was cut short. The rookie third-round pick has plenty of attention around him heading into the regular season, and this was a small piece of work in a summer where the spotlight has already found him.
In Other News...
USC's Jahkeem Stewart Return Timeline Suddenly Looks Very Different
Jahkeem Stewarts path back to the USC defensive line has changed quickly, and in a good way for the Trojans. The sophomore tackle, who dealt with a foot injury before last season and was originally expected to miss a significant chunk of this year, now has a much shorter timeline in view after Lincoln Riley suggested he could be back as early as next week for Fresno State. For a unit that has been building around experienced options like Alex VanSumeren and Jide Abasiri, getting Stewart back sooner than expected would be a welcome boost.
For now, USC still has to get through the opener against San Jose State without him, and that means the depth chart along the front could get a real early-season test. Several freshmen are expected to see playing time while Stewart is out, which makes his status one of the more important development points around the program heading into the start of the schedule. The bigger question is not just when he returns, but how quickly USC can fold him back into a rotation that may already have some new faces on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Is Building The USC Team Fans Expected All Along
Lincoln Riley has spent the better part of his USC tenure reshaping the roster and the room around it, and the latest round of changes shows how deliberate the long game has become. Since taking over in 2021, Riley has kept pushing the program toward the kind of toughness and depth needed to compete in the Big Ten, with a clear emphasis on the offensive and defensive lines, special teams and the overall standard inside the building.
The staff additions tell the story as much as the personnel plan does. Strength coach Trumain Carroll and special teams coach Mike Ekeler are part of the push to harden the program, while defensive coordinator Gary Patterson and other assistants were brought in to help round out the staff ahead of the 2026 season. For USC, the question is no longer whether Riley will keep making changes, but how quickly all of those pieces can come together into the version of the Trojans fans expected from the start. [Read more 🡒]
USC Enters The Season With One Big Change Up Front
USC goes into the season having already had to make one major adjustment up front, with projected starting center Kilian OConnor out for the year and redshirt-junior Tobias Raymond stepping into the role for the first time in his career. It is the kind of change that can ripple through an offense, especially for a line that has to get organized quickly as the Trojans settle into a new look before the opener.
There are other signs of progress around the roster, too, including redshirt-sophomore running back King Miller, who has added weight and says the extra strength has also sharpened his speed. Lincoln Riley has sounded confident in the group, and Miller pointed to the trust built between players and coaches as a reason the Trojans feel ready to move forward, even with one key question still hanging over the middle of the line. [Read more 🡒]