Injuries in pro football are a fact of life. It's often the healthiest teams that are able to make it to the playoffs and beyond. Some teams' seasons can end before they begin when injuries strike in training camp to players they can least afford to miss. I've put together a list of the players I believe to be the most irreplaceable on each UFL team.
Arlington Renegades - QB Luis Perez
This may seem to run counter to comments I made in a previous article at another site, but as of today, Perez is the reigning UFL passing leader and his backup, Holton Ahlers, is largely untested as a pro. Perez's command of the offense and understanding of the intricacies of the position would be difficult to replace. As long as he doesn't experience a significant fall-off from 2024, the Renegades should be more competitive given the improvements made elsewhere on the roster. The team hopes they don't need to find out if those improvements are enough to make up for an injury at the QB position.
Birmingham Stallions - C Cole Schneider
With a new starting quarterback in 2025, even one that has likely played under Skip Holtz before, the importance of the center increases. They can help the QB make line calls, set protections and identify blitzes. Schneider is in his third season as the starter at the pivot in Birmingham. In the last two years, he has missed just one regular season game, so no other player on the team has gotten meaningful reps there. Birmingham's history is that of a strong offensive line and it starts with the charismatic Schneider.
D.C. Defenders - RB Abram Smith
Unlike others on this list where we can only speculate as to what the team's performance would be like sans that player, we have hard evidence of how D.C. plays with and without Smith. With him, the Defenders went to the XFL Championship in 2023 and posted a 9-1 regular season record. Without him, they failed to make the playoffs in 2024, finishing under .500. There were certainly other circumstances in play - notably the talent level increased with the merger and Smith may not have dominated in '24 the way he did in '23 - but it was clear D.C.'s offense was hamstrung in his absence.
Houston Roughnecks - S Markel Roby
Choosing an irreplaceable Roughneck was tough because of the roster churn the team experienced in the off-season. We simply don't know how the depth chart will ultimately shake out. In a defensive backfield that doesn't return many bodies from 2024, Roby will be a key. He was a top tackler on the team last year and had three interceptions. It's expected that Roby will take a leadership role in the defensive back room during training camp. As a safety, he can see the defense in front of him and make necessary adjustments pre-snap after having a year in the system. Players behind him at the position are young and inexperienced.
Memphis Showboats - WR Daewood Davis
Like in Houston, Memphis has a drastically different roster this year, so this is based more on projection than anything else. Davis, an All-UFL selection in 2024 and the team's leading receiver, accomplished those feats on a team that ranked last in the league in passing. Memphis started three quarterbacks throughout the season, meaning Davis had to develop chemistry with all three in order to produce the way he did, no easy task. The Showboats are seeking more stability at QB in 2025 and that could possibly increase Davis's output. I'm hard-pressed to find a replacement on their roster for all that he brings to the table.
Michigan Panthers - LB Frank Ginda
Ginda's 2024 season came to a premature end when he was placed on injured reserve on May 9. His absence was especially noticeable in the USFL Division Championship, when the Stallions put up 31 points on the vaunted Panther defense. Despite missing nearly half the season, Ginda still managed to rank fourth on the team in tackles, with three for a loss. The physical and emotional leader for the Panthers, Ginda has been on the fringes of the NFL while playing in spring football, yet he always comes back. Expect him to slide back into one of Michigan's three starting LB spots. The team improved the depth at linebacker in the off-season, but it's impossible to replace the intangibles Ginda brings week-in and week-out.
San Antonio Brahmas - LB Tavante Beckett
You could put Tavante Beckett OR Jordan WIlliams here, but Beckett had a better statistical season than his partner in crime at the position last year. Beckett and Williams man the inside at the second level of Wade Phillips's defense and they play with the intensity that Phillips loves. They're fast, sure tacklers with incredible instincts that make up for whatever measureables they lack. Beckett played under Phillips with the Houston Roughnecks in 2023 and accumulated 69 tackles, nine for a loss, forced two fumbles, and was in on three special teams tackles in 2024. Just 27 years old, Beckett is in his prime and though San Antonio can trot out several pass rushers on the outside, he and Williams are two-of-a-kind with the Brahmas.
St. Louis Battlehawks - WR Hakeem Butler
We don't yet know who will be throwing passes to Butler this year, but if the last two years are any indication, the QB simply needs to get the ball in Butler's zip code and he'll come down with it. Butler accounted for 23% of St. Louis's receptions last season and 35% of their passing yardage. His receiving yards more than doubled that of the next highest Battlehawk. Butler is going to be a young QB's best friend in St. Louis with his size and ability to get open. Of the top four receivers in terms of receptions after Butler in '24, only one returns in 2025. St. Louis acquired some big-name players at the position this off-season, but as we've seen in spring football past, that doesn't always equate to big-time production. With Butler, his history of production precedes him.