Marshawn Lloyd is set to take a big step for the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, and the former USC running back is doing it with a first NFL start.
The Packers’ backfield has been thrown into flux this offseason, and Josh Jacobs won’t be available against the Cowboys. Jacobs is out for Week 1 because of off-field reasons and a groin injury, which clears the way for Lloyd to get the nod.
It’s a long-awaited opening for Lloyd, who has barely had a chance to show what he can do at the pro level. Since being drafted in 2024, he has appeared in just one game, with injuries repeatedly keeping him off the field. Now healthy, he finally has a real chance to make an impression.
USC fans already know the kind of burst he brings. In his final season with the Trojans, Lloyd ran for 820 yards, averaged 7.1 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns. That same ability showed up in the preseason for Green Bay, where he looked like a true three-down option who can hammer defenses between the tackles, create big plays as a runner and even split out wide to run receiver routes.
Matt LaFleur has a history of leaning on his running backs in both phases of the offense, and Jacobs had been highly productive in that role since arriving in Green Bay. Lloyd isn’t Jacobs, but this is a chance for him to step into meaningful work and show why there was so much belief in his upside.
In Other News...
USC Faces An Uncomfortable Coliseum Problem Before Big Ten Games Arrive
USCs strong start and national ranking have not translated into a full house at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2026, and the gap between the announced crowds and the number of tickets actually scanned has only sharpened the uneasy picture. Even with the Trojans drawing plenty of attention on the field, the building has not consistently looked like the kind of backdrop that usually comes with a team positioned to matter nationally.
That creates a tricky backdrop as the schedule gets more demanding, especially with Big Ten games still ahead. For now, the Louisiana matchup stands out as one of the more affordable chances for fans to get in the door, while upcoming conference games are expected to carry a much steeper price tag, leaving USC to hope the bigger stakes will finally bring a bigger crowd. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Young Tight End Is Becoming Hard To Ignore
Mark Bowman is already starting to look like the kind of young tight end USC can build around, and that matters with the Trojans trying to stay on track for a College Football Playoff push. The former five-star recruit has caught six passes for 45 yards in his first two collegiate games, a fast start for a freshman learning the ropes in a demanding offense.
Lincoln Riley has taken notice of the way Bowman has prepared and developed so early, and USCs staff clearly sees room for much more at a spot that can change the shape of an offense. The Trojans now turn their attention to Louisiana, where Bowman will have another chance to keep forcing his way into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Run Game Has An Early Problem Lincoln Riley Cant Ignore
Through two games of the 2025 season, USCs backfield has already become a small but real concern for Lincoln Riley. Waymond Jordan and King Miller have both had trouble with ball security and turning carries into explosive gains, a hiccup for an offense that still has the look of one built to lean on a strong line and stay ahead of schedule.
Riley has pointed to the need for a more balanced attack if the Trojans are going to hold up in the Big Ten, and the early issues on the ground make that message even harder to ignore. Freshman Deshonne Redeaux has flashed enough in limited work to at least enter the conversation for more snaps, giving USC another option if the current rotation cannot clean up the small breakdowns that have slowed the run game. [Read more 🡒]