Former DC Defenders QB Cardale Jones Signs With CFL’s Edmonton Elks

Cardale Jones will be playing football again, but not for the XFL. The Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League announced Friday that Jones is headed north.

The former Ohio State Buckeye is replacing former teammate J.T. Barrett, who is out for the 2022 season due to an injury suffered in March. Barrett was placed on the Elk’s retired list to make room for Jones.

This is not the first time Jones replaced Barrett on the field. Back in 2014, Barrett, the Buckeye’s starter, suffered a season-ending injury. Jones came in and then led Ohio State to the 2014 national championship.

Jones was the 139th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft for the Buffalo Bills. He was backup to EJ Manuel, throwing for just 96 yards and one interception in one game. Jones was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers after his rookie season and released by the team in 2019. He had a stop with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 before joining the DC Defenders of the XFL.

Jones played well for his first two XFL games before his play dropped off and was benched for Tyree Jackson. He threw four touchdowns and seven interceptions in five games before the league shut down.

In March, NFL, XFL, and CFL scouts got a peek of Jones throwing passes during the Buckeyes’ pro day. Maybe the Elks liked what they saw. Jones is 29-years-old, and with the Buffalo Bills scouting connection with the XFL, the word might have gotten to Jones that the XFL 3.0 era is not interested in him. The XFL is bringing back its Summer Showcase for the 2023 season. Tryouts are taking place from June to July across the US.

Jones works as the chief talent officer for Ten Talents, a name, image, and likeness (NIL) agency for college athletes. No word on if Sonic 2 played a factor in this signing, maybe the CFL feels like the curse is now broken *Inside XFL fans joke.