Saint Louis has a love for Backup QBs who lead them to championships. About 26 years ago, a former arena Quarterback named Kurt Warner led a team that had championship aspirations to a Super Bowl and the rest is history. Fast forward to present day. A St. Louis team with championship aspirations finds their Quarterback down with an injury as they turn to unproven backup.
Saint Louis looks to be without Manny Wilkins for the foreseeable after what looks too be an Achillies injury during the opening series of their game vs the Arlington Renegades. After turning to Max Duggan, though competitive Duggan failed to lead the Battlehawks to a touchdown during his extended look, the time to panic is not right now.
While Duggan has all the tools to lead the Battlehawks to a historic run, the team does need to bring in some sort of insurance in case things don’t go to plan. The Battlehawks currently only roster Duggan, and Trae Self with Self having virtually no experience at the professional level. With Chevan Cordeiro sideline for the next Four games due to him being on Injured Reserve the Battlehawks have an open roster spot that needs to be filled immediately, hopefully with someone whose “been there” and “done that”.
Easton Stick
Experience: Los Angeles Chargers
Stick is a mobile QB who remains unsigned during NFL free agency. The former NDSU QB had been with the Chargers for Five Seasons starting Four games for the team in 2023. With the Battlehawks looking for a boost and someone who has experience running a similar system Stick may be able help Duggan work through some of the growing pains of being a starting QB.
Jacob Eason
Experience: Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers
Eason has appeared in a few games, and owns a similar skill set to A.J. McCarron coming out of the University of Washington. Eason was a Five-Star recruit coming out of HS and despite injuries still put together a college career that resulted in a winning record and Two bowl wins. His strong arm, ability to manage the game through the pocket may make for a nice decision if called upon by St. Louis. Worth noting, he has been teammates with PJ Walker and Matt Corral so he may have some insight on the interworking of spring football.
Jeff Driskel
Experience: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals
Dirskel’s been around the block since coming out of LA Tech in 2016. He’s thrown 391 passes in the NFL starting 11 games in his career and is currently a free agent. Driskel has the ability to run read option, contributing on special teams at one point. While it may be a stretch for Driskel to come and play in the UFL it is worth noting his agent Harold Lewis does represent several members of the Battlehawks.
Carson Wentz
Experience: Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs
This might be a stretch but what does Wentz have to lose. He’s made money, he’s won a Super Bowl, he’s checked a lot of boxes and at this point is in journeyman mode. Wentz has the ability to pull a reverse Nick Foles, and while it’s not at the level of a Super Bowl it’d make for a great chapter in his book I’m sure he’d write.
While many may want A.J. McCarron, the “fallout” from his release may need for some hard conversations to be had in an effort to facilitate a reunion. Regardless, the Battlehawks will return home to face the Michigan Panthers in hopes of breaking their Two-game skid and avenging their loss from last year.
2 Comments
by Gary Winter
Oops! I guess releasing McCarron and going with his so-so backup and two rookies may not have been a great coaching/GM move after all! When the season started in Houston we watched Manny Wilkins, playing behind an offensive line that clearly dominated Houston’s defense, play a very good and steady game. The following week we had the Brahma’s who seem to have dropped a fair bit since their Championship Game run last year and we were still hopeful that the quarterback move was going to be ok. It was about a minute or two into the game with DC that confirmed our fear that maybe dumping a quality QB for his “not nearly as good” back-up just wasn’t a good idea. DC dominated our O-line for a good part of the game and Wilkins didn’t handle it very well, having many of the same problems he showed last year. Rushing his passes, interceptions and indecision plagued his game.
In the contest against Arlington on Saturday, Wilkins went down with an ankle injury of some sort and Max Duggen came in and showed why the decision to release McCarron might’ve been ok for the coaches but certainly wasn’t a positive move for the team. Duggen is young and not experienced and it showed getting sacked 6 times and to my recollection, not once ever throwing the ball away to avoid the sack. I have no doubt that these men are talented but seriously, in the game of football, or any sport for that matter, when does a team cut one of the better players on their roster in favor of their back-up who had problems and two rookies?
I live and die with these guys and will still be there every gameday cheering and rooting them on but I wonder about the decision making surrounding this team.
by Ken Granito
Any of these players could help. Imagine if he would have gotten a proven Quarterback before the season started.
They would have a camp behind them. But he was afraid. He wanted to be the unquestioned leader of the team. If he would have reached out to anyone on this list , McLeod Bethel Thompson (He did not sign with the CFL until February and there was time), or even Reid Sinnett but he was too short-sighted to try to for any of these choices. I have heard personally that Anthony Becht wants someone to run. To me that would be Jeff Driskel, as he can run as well as pass. He will know when to distribute and when to take off and get the needed yardage. He is surely in shape as I presume he is waiting on a NFL job. He is not a team, but surely did not lose his skills overnight either. Maybe a 7 week run in St. Louis might be what the doctor ordered for his career and to sharpen his tools and skillset. Another not mentioned name would be Chase Garbers. Again, they need someone to distribute the ball to their playmakers. That is right up Garbers’ alley. He and his 70% completion percentage. As we noted in the championship game he is not a skilled runner, but they won’t need him to pump up this team. The team is pretty pumped up already. Other candidates include Bryan Scott, Matt Barkley, Brian Hoyer (if in good enough shape), Nate Sudfeld and my favorite choice…..St. Louis’ own Blaine Gabbert. I am sure Gabbert could just ride into the sunset, but he played at Missouri and he upset Oklahoma. How fun would if be to beat a former Oklahoma coach to get to the playoffs and lead St. Louis to a home playoff game and championship game? With a quality quarterback like him throwing to Hakeem Butler Jacob Saylors, Jahcour Pearson, Denzel Mims and Frank Darby they become a favorite to capture the crown, which is really what the UFL wants above all else anyway right?