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Bryan Jackson injury update: Lincoln Riley explains how USC RB suited up at halftime

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko10/13/25nickkosko59
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Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

USC running back Bryan Jackson surprisingly played in the win over Michigan Saturday night. Lincoln Riley explained how the ball carrier was able to suit up amid other injuries in the game.

Jackson hadn’t played since Week 1 due to an undisclosed injury, but Riley never confirmed his RB was out for the season. That was at the start of the month, so seeing Jackson suit up in a win, and actually score, was a welcome sight.

Riley revealed Jackson was practicing in a limited capacity recently. But his ability this weekend was solely being a tough individual and getting medically cleared, nonetheless.

“Yeah, it’s a unique situation,” Riley said postgame. “It was a wellness issue in the game. He’s been practicing in a very limited capacity and building up for the last several weeks. He’s had a turf toe. There was an expectation coming into this game that outside of a near catastrophe, we weren’t going to play him. And so the game plays out. We have a couple injuries that you never expect to happen. Two of them, just like that. We were able to get in communication with the league office and explain the situation. 

Bryan Jackson suits up for USC despite injury

“Our doctors medically cleared him, and again, it just became a wellness issue for us here. We made sure to clear him. The kid was ready to go and stepped up. That’s what you gotta have, man. You gotta have tough guys to play through stuff if you want to win at this level. You have guys that sacrifice like that for the team.”

Jackson ran five times for 35 yards and a touchdown in the 31-13 win over Michigan. USC is now 5-1 on the season and ranked No. 20 in the country.

Jackson only has 10 carries for 46 yards and two touchdowns on the year. But, he could slowly return to full health as the weeks progress.

As a freshman in 2024, Jackson had 36 carries for 188 yards and a touchdown for the Trojans. When his number was called, he stepped up.

As a member of the Class of 2024, Jackson was a three-star recruit out of McKinney (Texas) High, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He was the No. 100 overall prospect in the state, the No. 51 running back in the class and the No. 636 overall prospect in the class.