During USC Trojans Coach Lincoln Riley’s Thursday Zoom presser with the media, he was asked about the availability of running back Marshawn Lloyd for this Saturday’s game against the Oregon Ducks.
Ryan Young
Hey Lincoln. Uh, two quick questions for you. What’s the update on Marshawn Lloyd? Does he expect to play this week, and then with Raleek Brown? Uh, what’s the plan for him the rest of the way, and was the plan always to wait for these last three games so he can get those four games played?
Lincoln Riley
Uh, yeah, Marshawn’s, uh, Marshawn’s done well this week. Uh, we’ve been pleased with him. Um, if we don’t have any issues going forward, expect him to make the trip and, uh, hopefully, be available.
Um, yeah, I mean obviously, the four games give you some options with, uh, you know, and a couple of other guys on our roster, you know, just know that we may have a few more guys available now, uh, that did not exhaust those four games at the beginning. Um, kind of knowing that any post-season game, uh, doesn’t factor into that. So that obviously makes, it makes it a little bit easier to make those decisions for us. So yeah, like anybody else, we’ll continue to evaluate him on a week-to-week basis and, um, what they can contribute and if guys’s got games available and can contribute, and then we will, uh, certainly be ready to use them.
Ryan Young
When you say you hope to have Marshawn available, are there still things he has to show or clear to be able to play?
Lincoln Riley
No, it’s been positive this week, but these, you know, anytime you’re coming back from an injury, there’s a progression to it. You know, it’s not like you’re throwing him out there on a Tuesday practice and just like straight back in like a live scrimmage, you know, which obviously you get in a game, it’s a full live situation, so there are progressions from any injury. He’s trending well. I think barring anything unforeseen, I think he’ll be available for us on Saturday.
The USC Trojans are going to need all the help they can get up in Eugene against a really good Oregon Ducks team. Ultimately, it is going to come down to the defense and if they’ve shown any improvement now that Alex Grinch is not calling the shots, but having Marshawn Lloyd back in the lineup will certainly be a welcomed boost.
Make sure to catch the Trojans take on the Ducks on Saturday at 7:30 PM PT on Fox.