Week 2 wasn’t kind to most of the USC alumni making their living in the NFL, but a few names still flashed. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Leonard Williams delivered the kind of performances that jump off the page, while Caleb Williams, Drake London and several others had quieter afternoons than they’d hoped for.
St. Brown was the headline act.
He piled up 142 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 catches and carried the Lions’ offense for long stretches. Even with that kind of production, Detroit still couldn’t keep pace with Buffalo, where Josh Allen turned in an MVP-level showing.
Still, St. Brown looks well on his way to another big season.
Leonard Williams kept rolling too. He added his second sack of the season and finished with 6 total tackles, helping slam the door on the Cardinals’ offense.
Caleb Williams, meanwhile, had a rough day before leaving the game with an injury. The Bears fell to a strong Minnesota Vikings defensive performance, and Williams never really settled in.
He finished 15-26 for 138 yards with a brutal interception, plus 42 yards rushing. He was scrambling for his life most of the afternoon, and this was one of those games he’ll want to put behind him once he’s healthy again.
A few other former Trojans were involved, but not in ways that moved the needle much. Woody Marks had 8 carries for 8 yards and 5 catches for 27 yards as the Texans struggled to run the ball at all. His work in the passing game still stands out as something Houston should lean on more, but this wasn’t a game where he got many chances to make noise.
Marshawn Lloyd found the end zone for the Packers, but that wasn’t enough to put him in control of the backfield. He finished with 6 carries for 20 yards and 2 catches for 6 yards and a touchdown, while Kaleb Johnson outgained him despite being very new to the offense. That’s not the kind of production Green Bay needs if it’s looking for a Josh Jacobs replacement.
Makai Lemon is still in the development phase of his rookie year, and Week 2 didn’t change that. He remained a non-factor in the Eagles’ offense and ended the game with just 1 catch for 14 yards.
Drake London did what he could in Atlanta’s ongoing quarterback mess. He caught 4 passes for 51 yards and continued to produce despite poor play under center. The Falcons are hoping Michael Penix Jr. can be the answer there, because London has clearly been dealing with frustration already.
Jordan Addison had a small step forward, but not enough to truly impact the game. Against a bad Chicago secondary, he finished with 2 catches for 21 yards. So far, that’s not the kind of start that helps his case for a second contract.
On the defensive side, Isaiah Pola-Mao continued to be part of a Raiders unit that has been one of the early surprises of the season. Against the Chargers, he held up in coverage and recorded 4 tackles.
Tuli Tuipulotu, though, didn’t do much to help a Chargers defense still looking for answers. He finished with just 1 tackle, and if Los Angeles is going to climb out of its 0-2 start, it needs Tuipulotu back at dominant form.
Talanoa Hufanga gave the Broncos another steady outing. He posted 6 tackles while helping Denver slow down a dangerous Jaguars offense, and his consistency was a big part of the team’s bounce-back effort.
Uchenna Nwosu had a much quieter day than usual. Seattle’s underrated defender ended with only 1 tackle, a rare low-output game for someone who usually looms as a major X factor.
In Other News...
USCs Upset Shot Vs Oregon May Hinge On One Injury Question
The injury reports are in ahead of USCs conference matchup with Oregon, and both sides are dealing with absences that could shape how this game is played. Oregon is already listed without several key players, while USCs report includes its own notable names, making the availability chart worth watching as the Trojans prepare for one of the more demanding games on their schedule.
For USC, the most important development is the status of running back Deshonne Redeaux, who was recently upgraded to probable. The Trojans have also been managing injuries to Jahkeem Stewart, Trent Mosley and Alex Graham, and how those situations settle before kickoff could influence not just depth, but how aggressive USC can be against a Ducks team missing pieces of its own. [Read more 🡒]
John Robinsons USC Legacy Reached Somewhere Trojans Fans May Not Expect
John Robinsons footprint at USC has always been tied to winning, but the reach of his coaching tree stretches into places Trojans fans might not immediately connect with their own history. The shared history between USC and Oregon is part of that broader picture, with Robinson serving in both programs orbit and helping assemble staffs that became notable for the careers they launched as much as the games they coached.
The 1979 USC staff stood out for its success, while Oregons 1971 staff carried a different kind of significance, becoming a springboard for NFL coaching careers. Names like George Seifert, John Marshall and Gunther Cunningham all trace back into that network, a reminder that Robinsons legacy was not limited to one sideline or one conference stop. For USC, it is another way to measure how deeply one coachs influence ran through the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Stormtrooper Look Just Added More Buzz To USC Showdown
The buildup around USCs Sept. 26 meeting with Oregon already had the feel of an early measuring-stick game, and the Ducks just added another layer to it with the return of their all-white stormtrooper look. Oregon defensive tackle Bear Alexander helped stir the conversation by posting images of the teams new cleats on social media, a small detail that still matters in a matchup where every visual cue seems designed to signal stakes, swagger and the kind of attention these programs draw when they meet.
For the Trojans, the spotlight goes well beyond uniforms. This is the kind of conference game that can shape an early-season narrative, especially with key absences around the matchup and a chance for players on both sides to add something lasting to their legacies. Oregons presentation may grab the first wave of buzz, but USC knows the real story will be written on the field once the lights come on. [Read more 🡒]