Dallas Renegades QB Landry Jones has been nursing his left knee since training camp. Despite wearing a brace in games, he re-aggravated his MCL on a two-yard run while leading the Renegades on a valiant comeback try late in the game vs the Roughnecks.
While sources initially stated that his MCL was partially torn and he would likely miss significant time, the team just tweeted this:
The turnaround time on a partially torn MCL is typically 4-6 weeks, so his case must be mild with a two week estimation by the team. There is concern because it’s the second time this year his knee has flared up, but time will tell how many games he’s out.
In his absence, Bob Stoops will need to decide if he’s comfortable moving forward with Phillip Nelsen for the next two weeks or bring in a new starter. Nelsen had a middling performance vs the BattleHawks in the season opener, completing a high percentage of passes without pushing it downfield.
Brogan Roback is the only other QB on the roster, and the fiery 25 year old could be an option to lead the offense. They could also try to speak with their former QB3 in Syracuse standout Eric Dungey, who is currently out of the game after the tragic death of his father.
A trade seems possible as well, and the Renegades would be wise to call around about some of the better backups around the league. Connor Cook was locked in a highly contested battle with XFL star PJ Walker until just a few days before the season, and could be a great option to start.
Quinton Flowers’ name has been thrown around a lot, and the QB has been away from the Vipers due to personal reasons, and possible frustration with his limited role. With Taylor Cornelius coming up in a big way against the Defenders last week, Dallas could be his best chance to start.
Taylor Heinicke from the BattleHawks is a name that Dallas should consider, as Ta’amu has secured the starting job in St. Louis with some fantastic play in recent weeks. Heinicke has NFL starting experience, and currently holds the NCAA Division 1 record for passing yards/game after a 730 yard, 5 TD performance at Old Dominion in 2012.
If the team looks to free agency, there are a few good options available on Team Nine. CJ Collins is a prototypically built QB at 6’5″ 220 pounds with plus athleticism and a rocket for an arm. Joe Callahan was a legend in D-III football and has had stints on 7 different NFL teams, and most recently was brought in to stabilize the Lion’s QB room this season.
The team will likely make a move at QB in the next couple days, and we’ll keep you posted here at XFL News Hub. We wish the best for Landry Jones, and hope the veteran QB has a speedy recovery.
