2018 USFL Week 2 Recap: Medical Mayhem

If Week 1 of the USFL season was defined by foul weather, Week 2 was defined by something much worse, injuries. A rash of injuries across the league have made this past week one of the costliest in recent memory, and have thrown the season into disarray as several teams are now looking for answers. And yet, in the middle of what could be viewed as a very tough week for the year, there are stories of surprising success, of players either coming out of nowhere or returning from the junk heap to help their teams this week. We will cover both sides of this week’s stories, the crushing blow of major injuries and the opportunities created for players to step in and step up. We will review all the big games this week and also look at how Week 2 was a triumph for the run game across the league. We will also look at another possible suspension on the way for a troubled superstar and question our own hype of an offseason move that, so far, has just not worked out.  It’s all right here on This Week in the USFL.

An Injury-Marred Second Week of USFL Action

To say that the games this week may have a lingering effect on the entire season seems about right. With a rash of significant injuries, the likes of which we have not seen in a single week in a long time, this past week of action could well result in major impacts for teams from coast to coast. As we review the biggest blows and how teams will try to overcome them, we take into account not only the duration of these major injuries, but the question of roster depth. As much as teams like to talk about a “Next Man Up” approach, fans know that some players are special and that what can be asked of the next man is not close to matching what was lost with the injury, a reality that many teams are now facing.

Houston Loses Safety Budda Baker to ACL Tear

Houston’s young safety, Budda Baker, was a star on the rise. A candidate for Rookie of the Year last season, starting since the opener and finishing the year with 68 tackles, 5 sacks and 3 picks. But now, after suffering a full ACL tear in his right leg, Baker is lost for the season, placed on IR as he is schedule to undergo surgery and a lengthy recovery process. It is one of the most dreaded injuries in the league, and while we have good recent examples of players who have rebounded well from the injury, including Charlotte HB Adrian Peterson, Baker’s brilliant first season is now profoundly offset by a lost sophomore campaign.

For the Gamblers, the options are limited. The most likely scenario is that they will move Kenny Vaccaro back to Strong Safety, having shifted him to the Free Safety position last year. That then moves the position of need to the free safety slot, where rookie Jessie Bates and 2nd year player Shalom Luani are going to be given a shot to step up. There are a couple of potential options in the free agent pool, including former Denver SS Daimion Stafford and former Express and Vipers FS Darnell Bing, who was not signed at age 34 this past off-season, but we expect Coach Phillips will give his two young safeties a shot first.

Portland Loses 2017 Rushing Leader for 8-12 Weeks

For the Stags, their solution may have already appeared. When 2017 league rushing leader Doug Martin went down early in the Stags’ game against Washington, backup Ben Tate stepped in and surprised us all with 181 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Feds. Tate, a journeyman who has played for Birmingham (2010-11), Michigan (2012), Chicago (2013), Houston (2014-16) and who had only 1 carry for the Stags last year, was a shockingly effective runner behind the Stag line, and will almost certainly be given the chance to start this week when Portland has their first road game, a cross-country trek to Philadelphia.

As for Martin, the 6-year veteran is not likely to be placed on IR, as there is a chance he could be back as soon as Week 11. If his hip injury does not proceed in recovery as hoped, the Stags could put him on IR at any time, but they seem content to have him on the roster for now, having already released 32-year old receiver Roberto Wallace and added HB Travares Cadet from the free agent pool to provide depth behind Ben Tate. How Tate fares in Philadelphia will likely tell us if more moves are eminent.

Three Teams, Three Starting QBs, Three Very Different Situations

In one week we saw three USFL starting QBs go down, each diagnosed with a 6-8 week recovery time, and each team left with a very different scenario moving forward. Oakland saw QB Ryan Lindley suffer a torn meniscus in his knee the day before their home opener against San Diego. They started Bob Volek in his place, and Volek played well, but while the loss of Lindley certainly lessens depth at the QB position, the Invaders had already penciled in Week 3 as the day when NFL import Jimmy Garappolo would take the helm of the offense. The injury to Lindley, while unfortunate, should not derail the Invader plans for the season. They have already shifted Garoppolo into practice with the first team, moved Volek to the 2-slot, and have activated former Stags backup Kellen Moore as the emergency QB.

The situation is not quite so clear in Seattle, where a tear to the groin muscle for Jacoby Brissett will keep him sidelined at least 6 weeks. The painful injury was suffered on a scramble, when Brissett’s right foot was caught under a tackler, leading to an awkward stretch of the leg and a painful departure from the game. Matt McGloin finished the game, and has already been named the starter for the Dragons’ Week 3 matchup against in DC against the Federals. He will be backed up by former Bandit and Fire QB Brad Gradkowski, signed this offseason. That gives Seattle two veteran backups, and we expect that the next few weeks we may see both as Coach Riley tries to find the best option. At present, Seattle does not have a 4th QB on the active roster, but we expect them to sign someone in the coming week.

Finally, in Ohio, Christian Hackenberg is also expected to miss at least 6 weeks after suffering a fracture to his non-throwing arm that will require the use of a soft cast for at least the next 3 weeks. Hackenberg took a rough hit to the turf in Michigan’s Ford Field, when he was driven to the ground by Panther DE Kamerion Wemberley, a play which produced a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, but which now costs Hackenberg possibly half the season. Brock Osweiler stepped in against Michigan, and will likely be the starter for the foreseeable future, with former Buckeye Troy Smith now the 2nd option. Ohio has already signed a third quarterback, sending WR Lavelle Hawkins to the practice squad and adding former Breakers backup Keith Null on a 1-year deal.

Add in the injury to Russell Wilson of Orlando, a concussion that is likely to keep him out of Week 3 action, and this was an absolutely brutal week for injuries across the league. We will outline all the other players likely out for Week 3 in our weekly injury report, but the story of the week is certainly these major blows to the Gamblers, Glory, Dragons, Stags, and Invaders.

ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 27  LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 48

This week, in which injuries and halfback performances were the two biggest headlines, we take a different tack with our game of the week. Rather than looking for the game with the wildest ending, we decided to go with perhaps the biggest surprise performance, and while there were many this past week, including the stunning games but forward by backups Ben Tate (POR) and Tim Tebow (ORL), it was the offensive explosion put forth by the LA Express, and particularly halfback Reggie Bush that caught our attention.

In their home opener against the Skyhawks, the Express, who struggled to only 14 points in Portland’s rain the week before, exploded for 48 points and over 460 yards of offense. The Express scored on 8 of 10 possessions, with one of those 10 being the kneel downs at the end of the game, and while we all knew St. Louis had issues on defense, what the Express did to them was absolutely unexpected. The run game alone produced 258 yards of offense and 5 touchdowns, and while St. Louis QB Josh Freeman tried to keep the Skyhawks in the game with 3 TDs and 342 yards passing, the inability of his team’s defense to do anything against the oft-criticized Express attack, meant that LA was able to pull away and take over the game for their first victory of the season.

The issues for the St. Louis defense started early, as it took LA only 3 minutes and 6 plays to turn their first possession into 7 points. From the start it was the run game, and particularly Reggie Bush, who proved an unstoppable force against the Skyhawks. Bush would finish the game with 205 yards rushing, averaging 8.5 yards every time he touched the ball. On the opening drive alone he had runs of 11, 9, and 13 yards, with the 13-yarder resulting in 6 points for the Express. He would add a second TD in the quarter, a 17-yard sprint to the pylon, just one drive later.

Early on St. Louis was able to keep pace with Bush and the Express, scoring on their first two possessions, with TD tosses to Rob Gronkowski and David Nelson producing a 28-point first quarter, as the Skyhawks matched the two Bush TD runs. But this pace could not be upheld by the Skyhawks. In the 2nd quarter, they would add only 2 field goals, while LA would score on all three of their possessions, adding a field goal and 2 more touchdown runs, Reggie Bush’s third and the first by backup Paul Perkins.

By the half Bush was already at 115 yards rushing and the Express had built up a 31-20 lead. St. Louis was now in catchup mode, but LA was content to continue to use run game that had proven so effective not only to add 10 more points in the 3rd quarter, but to eat up nearly 11 of the 15 minutes of the quarter. When Paul Perkins added his 2nd TD of the day in the waning moments of the 3rd, it gave LA a 21 point lead and a team record 7 scores in 7 drives. They would have their first punt in the 4th quarter as they finally were forced to give up the ball after seven successful drives, but on their 2nd possession of the final quarter they once again scored, this time with Sam Bradford finding rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling for his 2nd TD on the young season. That boosted the LA advantage to 28 points. St. Louis would add a deep TD toss to Stevie Johnson in the game’s final minute, but the outcome had long since been decided.

For LA, and particularly for Coach Andy Reid, the production of the run game was a very welcome sign. The hope, of course, is that this is the start of a more consistent, more productive offensive season for an Express team that has lacked firepower in the past. But, of course, the ability to recreate the 258 rushing yards or 461 total yards against teams with more effective defenses remains to be tested. They will get that test against Pittsburgh this week, as the Mauler front line is certainly a more formidable obstacle. As for St. Louis, the defensive woes which led them to a 3-13 season a year ago simply do not seem to have been remedied in the offseason, leading Coach Reich to face the prospect of a very rough year, one in which teams will try to replicate what we saw LA do to St. Louis, run the ball right, left, and up the middle, to great success.

Birmingham 17  New Jersey 28

Cam Newton started the game with a rousing 51-yard TD run to inspire the few Stallions fans who made their way to the Meadowlands, but on his very next play he took an elbow to the eye and was lost for the game. Before you think it was deliberate, it was his own left guard who nailed him. As for New Jersey, they rattled off 28 unanswered points to take a commanding lead, with Maurice Jones-Drew finding plenty of space, averaging over 6 yards per carry on his way to a big day.

POTG: New Jersey HB Maurice Jones-Drew: 26 Att, 163 Yds, 2 TD

San Diego 10  Oakland 23

Oakland’s Ryan Lindley was hurt even before taking the field, tearing the meniscus in his knee in a non-contact injury in Thursday’s practice, so it was Bob Volek to the rescue, and what a rescue it was! Volek led the Invaders on a 16-0 run and the defense shut San Diego out in the 2nd half to help Oakland move to 2-0 on the young season. Touchdowns by Tyler Ervin and Davante Adams, along with 5 sacks from the Invader defense, led by former Panther Michael Bennett, kept San Diego winless in 2018.

POTG: Invader DE Michael Bennett: 8 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Blk FG, 1 FF

Charlotte 20  Baltimore 14

After their big win over Philly, Baltimore came out a little flat in their home opener, though a big part of that was a Monarchs’ D that picked off Ben Roethlisberger 3 times. Add in a combined 144 yards rushing from Adrian Peterson and Taiwan Jones and you have a 2-0 Monarchs club looking like a possible contender. Charlotte never trailed in this one, opening scoring with a John Stupar TD plunge, and keeping the lead throughout, thanks in part to Gabe Miller’s 18-yard pick six return.

POTG: Monarch LB Gabe Miller: 2 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

New Orleans 27  Jacksonville 17

The Breakers came into Jacksonville intent on moving to 2-0 and did just that with a solid game plan. Drew Brees went 17 of 26 for 229 and threw TDs to Jordy Nelson and Tyler Lockett, while Leonard Fournette added one on the ground. The Bulls had some moments, including 2 Robert Griffin TD runs, but it was too little, too late as the Breakers sent them to an 0-2 start.

POTG: Breaker TE Coby Fleener: 5 Rec, 97 Yds

Ohio 10  Michigan 34

It was all Panthers in this divisional border war as Michigan ran out to a 21-0 halftime lead and coasted the rest of the way. LeVeon Bell had 179 yards rushing and Kirk Cousins went 17 of 23 on the day as Michigan cruised. Worse yet for the Glory, Christian Hackenberg suffered a broken arm on a nasty tackle and could be missed for up to 2 months. Brock Osweiler came in but could not muster a comeback as the Panthers dominated.

POTG: Panther HB LeVeon Bell: 25 Att, 179 Yds, 1 TD

Tampa Bay 20  Orlando 38

Orlando’s front 7 recorded four sacks and two picks against Dak Prescott, but the biggest surprise was that the offense racked up 479 total yards, including 277 and 3 TDs from Tim Tebow after Russell Wilson left the game with a possible concussion. Tebow looked like he was back with the Gators, completing 15 of 20 and leading Orlando on 3 second half TD drives.

POTG: Orlando QB Tim Tebow: 15/20, 277 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int

Philadelphia 31  Seattle 24

Seattle gave the Stars a run, but in the end, Philadelphia just had more in the tank, led by Derrick Henry’s 3 total touchdowns, including a stunning 41-yard TD catch and run that left Dragon players in the dust. Seattle’s Dennis Pitta also had a good game, catching 5 for 30 yards and 2 scores, but it was not enough against King Henry and the Stars.

POTG: Philadelphia HB Derrick Henry: 16 Att, 63 Yds, 2 TD, 4 Rec, 117 Yds, 1 TD

Washington 14  Portland 42

Are the 2-0 Stags a surprise contender or are the 0-2 Federals just a mess? That is the question after Portland improved to 2-0 with an absolute demolition of visiting Washington. With Doug Martin lost to a possible season-ending hip injury, it was unheralded Ben Tate who proved that the Stags’ run game is not a one man show. Tate ripped Washington for 181 yards on 28 carries, an impressive 6.5 YPC, with 3 touchdowns to boot. A career game for Tate, an impressive win for Coach LaFleur’s unbeaten Stags.

POTG: Stag HB Ben Tate: 28 Att, 181 Yds, 3 TD

Atlanta 20  Pittsburgh 10

Pittsburgh’s spread offense sputtered while Atlanta’s ground game saw rookie Nick Chubb join Kenyan Drake and Chris Ivory to combine for 129 yards rushing. Aaron Murray also played well, going 26 of 35 with 2 scores as Atlanta doubled up the Maulers in Pittsburgh.

POTG: Atlanta DE William Gholston: 5 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR

Memphis 20  Houston 27

After knocking off New Jersey last week, the upstart Showboats gave Houston all they could handle, but in the end, Houston found some second half scores to take the W. Carlos Hyde rushed for 120 and a score and veteran WR Mike Evans added two touchdowns as well as the Gamblers fought back and fought off a very plucky Showboat squad.

POTG: Houston LB Ramik Wilson: 7 Tck, 1 Sck

Chicago 24  Arizona 38

David Carr was back in MVP form, throwing for 270 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Arizona offense found its groove, putting up 2 points in the 2nd quarter alone and blowing open a 7-7 game to take a 31-7 lead into the half. The D is still a concern, however, as Chicago ran for 186 yards against the Wranglers. Ryan Fitzpatrick also completed 38 of 47 passes, but Arizona did snag two picks as the Machine QB pressed in an attempt to make up the huge deficit.

POTG: Wrangler QB David Carr: 14/20, 270 Yds, 4 Td, 0 Int

Denver 26  Las Vegas 13

Denver continues to impress, taking their show on the road by doubling up the Vipers in Wynn Arena. The Gold defense forced 4 turnovers, including 3 picks of Eli Manning, and the run game saw rookie Phillip Lindsay rush for 70 yards, aided by veteran DeMarco Murray. Golden Tate was also sharp, catching 5 balls for 97 yards and a score as Denver moves to 2-0.

POTG: Denver DE Von Miller: 7 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR

Dallas 13  Oklahoma 37

The Roughnecks were intent on containing Marshawn Lynch, and largely did, holding him to only 1.9 yards per carry, but that allowed Joe Flacco to slowly pick apart the secondary, which he did, going 21 of 31 for 203 yards and 2 scores. Down 13-10 after 3 quarters, Oklahoma exploded in the 4th, scoring on 5 possessions, including a Lynch TD run, a Marquise Goodwin 30-yard TD catch and a Benjamin Richards pick-six that sealed Dallas’s fate.

POTG: Oklahoma safety Leon McQuay: 5 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int

A Huge Week for the Tailbacks

To say that this was a good week for fans of the run game might be underselling what we saw. Despite pretty solid weather all across the league’s schedule, the passing games were not on full display quite yet, but the rushing attack of many clubs certainly was. After a season opening week that saw only one back, league leader LeVeon Bell of Michigan, top 100 yards, this week, across the USFL, we saw six backs top the 100-yard threshold, with 3 more topping 90 yards, and several teams use a dual or even triple back rotation to put up impressive numbers. We already highlighted the standout game from LA’s Reggie Bush, leading all rushers with 205 yards and 3 touchdowns, but this week there were plenty of huge performances to celebrate. Backup tailback Ben Tate stepped in when Doug Martin went down to injury for Portland, and man, does he know how to step in and step up, putting up 181 yards and 3 scores of his own in Portland’s big win. Derrick Henry had only 63 yards rushing, but turned 4 catches into nearly 120 yards and a 3rd TD to finish the day with over 180 yards from scrimmage. We also saw Maurice Jones-Drew rack up 163 yards and 2 scores against Birmingham, LeVeon Bell put up more big numbers with 179 yards and a score at home against Ohio, Carlos Hyde rush for 120 and a score, and, in something of a rarity, Balitmore’s Kerwynn Williams topped 100 yards, rushing for 102 despite splitting carries with Anthony Dixon.

Add to these individual totals the team efforts that saw Adrian Peterson (90 yards) and Taiwan Jones (54) combine for 144 yards for Charlotte, Matt Forte (96) and Jeremy Hill (85) put up 186 rushing yards for Chicago, or a three-headed monster for Atlanta (Chubb, Drake, Ivory) combine for 129, and you have some serious ground advances in the USFL this week. It is rare in the spring league known for its wide open passing games to see so many teams rely on the run, and have such success with it, and while it is far too soon to say this could be a trend, it does seem that the run game is alive and well in the USFL, so defenses had better get ready to adjust.

Tim Tebow Shows Up Big for Orlando

Talk about a blast from the past, what we saw in Orlando’s big win against the rival Bandits this week took all of us back. When Russell Wilson leave the game with a nasty concussion that clearly had him woozy and unbalanced, in came former Bull and Express QB Tim Tebow. But the Tim Tebow we saw on Saturday was not the inaccurate gunslinger with a fullback’s running ability that we had seen in his stints with Jacksonville or LA, and certainly not the ineffective gimmick that he had become in his one year with the NFL Jets. We saw a Tim Tebow that harkened back to his time in Gainesville as the Heisman winning QB of the Florida Gators.

Other than one time he was flushed out of the pocket by Tampa’s rush, Tebow stood tall in the backfield, looking at multiple receivers and throwing a pretty accurate ball. The former Gator looked poised, especially for someone who had appeared in only 1 USFL game since 2015. He finished the game with 15 completions in 20 attempts, throwing for 277 yards against the Bandits and accounting for 3 touchdowns as he connected with Terrance Williams, Jeremy Maclin, and his favorite receiver on the day, Dwayne Bowe for scores. Tebow kept going back to Bowe, himself something of a reclamation project in Orlando, and the receiver came up big, catching 5 of 6 targets for an average of 24.2 yards per reception, all leading to a 121-yard day for the oft-forgotten former Breaker.

For fans of Tebow, and there remain many in the state of Florida who still harken back to his days as a Gator, this was a redemption game, a chance to once again proudly trot out the number 15 jersey and talk about the former Heisman winner as one of the legends of football in the Sunshine State. Tebow will get another chance to prove that his career’s demise was highly exaggerated when the Renegades travel to St. Louis to face the very suspect defense of the Skyhawks this week. Wilson will be kept out of the game as a precaution, giving number 15 a chance to shine again, and quite possibly revive both his professional career and his reputation.

Johnson Flying High with Skyhawks

To say that this week’s 48-27 drubbing by the LA Express was not a good time for the Skyhawks might be an understatement, but it was not a disaster for all 53 players on the roster. For newly-arrived WR Stevie Johnson, this week’s game was a breakout for him with his new team. After a pretty pedestrian season opener with his new team, the former Philadelphia Star showed why St. Louis had brought him in with one of the largest contracts ever offered to a wideout, catching 5 balls for 179 yards in St. Louis’s attempt to keep pace with LA’s scoring frenzy. Johnson had only had 3 catches and 34 yards when the Skyhawks shocked San Diego in their home opener, but this week, with the Skyhawks trying desperately to keep pace with an LA team that did not punt until the 4th quarter, Johnson’s skills were on full display. He had sideline toe-tapping catches, over the middle catches, and, the coup-de-grace, a 63-yard over-the-top catch reminiscent of Willie Mays in the final minute of the game that produced both a highlight reel visual and 7 points for the ‘Hawks. The game may have been very disturbing for Skyhawk fans, but what they saw out of their new acquisition had to be a sign of hope for the future.

Arizona Secondary Being Asked to Do a Lot

We all knew going into the season that the Arizona Wranglers were going to need time to find their defensive legs. We all also expected that the leadership of veterans in the secondary would be vital as the club tried to integrate a lot of new faces into the starting 11. What we did not anticipate was that the secondary would need to become the focal point of the entire defense, but when your top two tacklers are both DBs, it shows that you are relying very much on the third line of defense to take a very active role in every aspect of the team’s gameplan.

With SS Troy Polamalu leading the team with 20 tackles to date, followed closely by veteran CB Joe Haden with 19, it seems clear that Arizona is very much beholden to their secondary. We probably should not be shocked. With only 3 sacks in the opening 2 games, and with a LB group that is still trying to figure out their assignments, the only really consistent feature of the Wrangler D is in the secondary, where Polamalu and Haden lead a pretty veteran group that also includes free safety Nate Allen, veteran CB Mike Mickens and NFL import Ross Cockrell. With 2 of 3 starting linebackers new to the team (including rookie Malik Jefferson) and with 3 of 4 defensive line starter also new, there is just not a lot of continuity to be had, much less cohesion between teammates. The secondary has helped Arizona stay in games, with the pass defense ranked 13th in the league largely due to their efforts. The run defense has been harder to shift to the secondary, and that clearly impacts their ability to stop the run, with Chicago gaining over 180 yards on the ground this week after Arizona gave up 127 yards to Denver in a bad weather game at Invesco Field. The Wranglers have good leadership in the secondary to be sure, but what they need now is for the other 7 players on the field to figure out their roles and responsibilities each week and to play as a unit, something we are not yet seeing.

QB Situation Going into Week Three

Just to be sure we all know what to expect this week, with injuries affecting 5 of the league’s starting QB situation, here is a quick rundown of what you should expect from the Week 3 games.

Oakland will start NFL Import Jimmy Garoppolo as they visit Ohio, with Bob Volek in the 2 slot should he be needed.

Ohio will also be changing their QB for that game after the injury to Christian Hackenberg, with Brock Osweiler getting the start. So if you had Osweiler vs. Garoppolo penciled in for this game, congratulations, you may be clairvoyant.

Seattle heads to DC for the 2nd of two clashes between the Federals and PNW teams, after Washington was destroyed by the Stags last week. The Dragons will be going with former Stag Matt McGloin as their starter, but have also given former Fire QB Brad Gradkowski significant work this week in practice, so don’t be shocked if Gradkowski gets the call if McGloin struggles. Though the player to watch for certain is really HB Knowshon Moreno, considering what Ben Tate was able to do against the Federals’ run defense this past week.

To no one’s surprise after this past week’s performance, Tim Tebow has been given the start as Orlando travels to St. Louis. The Skyhawks also showed real issues with the run game, so expect Orlando to try to lighten Tebow’s load by focusing on a dual back run game with former Glory HB Rashad Jennings and veteran Latavius Murray carrying the ball early and often.

Finally, Cam Newton is listed as doubtful this week and all indications are that A. J. McCarron will get the start when the 0-2 Stallions host the Baltimore Blitz. Newton’s absence means we are likely to see Birmingham try to focus on the short passing game and hope that they can get some production from T. J. Yeldon. After 2 weeks, Yeldon has only 44 rushing yards, fewer than Cam Newton gained in one TD run this past week. If Yeldon struggles, it could be rookie Kerryon Johnson getting a shot as Birmingham will almost certainly try to run the ball against Baltimore.

INJURIES

We highlighted several key injuries in our Big Story this week, but the list is actually far longer than the list initially given, with 2 other IR additions and a long list of players ruled out for Week 5. New Jersey placed HB Kiero Small on IR and signed Toby Gerhardt to replace him. Between their active roster and practice squad, Jacksonville had 6 guards on the club, so they will not be looking to find a free agent, at least not in that position, as they place starting LG Dakota Doizer on IR with a broken leg. For the others, it looks like some temporary moves to bring a player up from the practice squad will be the answer.

OUT

HB         Kiero Small                     NJ           Torn Bicep            IR

SS           Budda Baker                     HOU     Torn ACL                  IR

G            Dakota Dozier                 JAX         Broken leg              IR

HB         Doug Martin                 POR      Broken Hip              8-12 Weeks

QB         Jacoby Brissett              SEA        Groin Tear                6-8 Weeks

QB         Christian Hackenberg  OHI       Broken Arm             6-8 Weeks

QB         Ryan Lindley                   OAK      Torn Miniscus           6-8 Weeks

C             Jimmy Hook                   OKL       Broken Arm              4-6 Weeks

CB          Prince Amukamara       WSH     Stress Fracture         2-4 Weeks

DT          Akeem Hicks                  OHI       Fractured Jaw          1-2 Weeks

LB           Rolando McClain           CHA      Concussion              1-2 Weeks

OT          David Tremblay               ORL       Arm                          1-2 Weeks

G            Herman Johnson            OKL       Back                          1-2 Weeks

OT          Jah Reid                           LA          Hip                           1-2 Weeks

LB           Brandon Spikes               DAL       Hand                         1-2 Weeks

G            Joshua Garnett               NJ           Hip                           1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

TE           Rob Housler                 MGN     Hand

DE          Chandler Jones               CHA      Illness

QB         Cam Newton                 BIR         Eye

QUESTIONABLE

SS           Kyshoen Jarrett               WSH     Concussion

CB          Chimdi Chekwa              OHI       Hamstring

SS           Jabril Peppers              MGN     Concussion

WR         Justin Blackmon             CHA      Patella Tendinitis

Manziel Possibly in Hot Water Again

As if having 5 USFL starting QBs out of Week 3 action due to injuries, we are potentially looking at another self-inflicted wound for the Dallas Roughnecks, as the league is currently investigating more allegations of misbehavior surrounding alcohol and QB Johnny Manziel. Reports out of Oklahoma City seem to indicate that the Dallas QB had some alcohol-fueled altercations with staff at the team’s hotel as they visited the city to face the Outlaws. No charges have been filed against Manziel, but it appears that police were involved when Manziel apparently clashed with hotel staff both inside the hotel and on the sidewalk outside the facility.

Reports are a bit fuzzy, but it appears that when the team arrived in Oklahoma City on Saturday, prepping for their Sunday night game against the Outlaws, Manziel wasted no time taking advantage of the minibar in his room, and soon was calling down to the hotel restaurant to order more alcohol. When some of his requests were denied, Manziel apparently made his way to the lobby and began berating the front desk staff. This developed further over the course of the night, with Manziel returning to the lobby multiple times and even clashing with building security outside the hotel. Police were called to the scene and Manziel was eventually returned to his room, with no further incidents reported, but the league is investigating the incident and local police are still potentially looking at several charges related to public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and potentially assaulting an officer for a swing that the QB apparently took towards one of the OKC police.

With a prior suspension already on his USFL record for a DUI in the 2016-2017 offseason, Manziel is already on thin ice with the league. A second alcohol-related suspension would almost certainly be lengthier than the 6-game suspension last season, and could very well come with requirements for treatment or counselling before reinstatement. We will continue to monitor this story, but as of right now it does appear that Manziel will both be active and expected to start when Dallas hosts Denver in a key early season divisional clash.

  Did We Oversell Anthony Allen?

As you may recall, this offseason we touted the potential of former Memphis HB Anthony Allen to take on a lead back role with whichever team signed the back in free agency. Allen had shown some real potential in his time with the Showboats, and we were confident that he could take his game to the next level and deserved a shot at being the number one back with a new team. The Washington Federals either believed us or agreed with us, signing Allen to a 3-year deal and putting him into the starting lineup as early as winter mini-camp.

But, with 2 weeks down in the 2018 season, the verdict is still very much out on Allen’s new placement. After rushing for only 15 yards on 16 carries in a dismal opener in Pittsburgh, there was some leeway given because the Mauler D-line is among the league’s most disruptive, and it clearly had given Washington’s blockers fits all game long. But, against Portland, who are not regarded by anyone as a top tier defense, Allen returned with only 55 yards. Now, that did include a touchdown run that required the back to shrug off an unencumbered defender, but even with that, his total production has just not been what Washington had hoped for.

The season is early, and we do not anticipate that the Feds will drop Allen for NFL import Orleans Darkwa or scatback Joique Bell, but they will absolutely need to see more from Allen if they hope to earn their first win, and certainly if they hope to improve on a pretty dismal 3-13 season in 2017. For now we will wait and see, but so far the impression Federal fans are getting is that Allen may have been more hype than help.

League Reveals Expansion Timeline for 2020

The USFL League Office in New York announced this week the timeline for 2020 expansion. While for one expansion group, the San Antonio USFL Club headed by former Outlaws owner Red McComb, is already pre-selected for one of the two slots, for several other expansion hopeful cities the timeline provides a clear calendar for proposals, review, and selection. The announced plan calls for proposals to be submitted for review by the ad hoc 2020 Expansion Committee by September 1st of this year. The committee will conduct the financial and contractual review to ensure that the bidding investors have the resources promised as well as a stadium deal which meets USFL standards. The league will announce 3 finalists after their late fall meeting in November and those groups will present their bids to the league ownership at the league’s March meeting, with the expectation that the expansion franchise will be announced in January of 2019, providing a full year for both the San Antonio franchise and the ownership of the league’s 30th franchise to set up ticketing and marketing offices, develop sponsorship and local partnership deals, and for the league to prepare an expansion draft in the fall of 2019 and set draft parameters for the January 2020 draft.

While the SAUC (cited above) is not required to participate in the review and selection process, once the league has selected their 30th franchise, the two will follow many of the same guidelines and processes for integration into the league. As of right now, the expectation is that the expansion process will include no fewer than 6 bidding groups, representing a range of cities that currently do not possess a USFL franchise, but it is possible that more will emerge as the process begins. As of today there are known investment groups waiting to develop their bids on behalf of franchise locations in Miami, the Twin Cities, Boston, Salt Lake City and Hartford, with rumors adding potential interest in Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Virginia Beach to the mix.

While certainly not the primary focus of a bidding process, there are many within the USFL who are looking at divisional alignment as a factor in their decision making. After relocation pushed Las Vegas into the SW Division, Houston was moved out of the division and into the South, creating separation from the other Texas franchises (at the time there were two, now down to one with San Antonio’s relocation to Oklahoma City). There are some who are hoping that an expansion to 30 teams would allow for a cluster of the 3 Texas teams once again. However, there is also interest in finding franchises who could bring the two 4-team divisions up to an even 5 teams along with the league’s other 4 divisions.

That could be done in a myriad of ways, so it does not necessarily rule out any particular location. For example, with the Central and Southern Divisions sitting at 4 teams, there is some talk about adding another midwestern club, like an Indianapolis or Twin City franchise, with San Antonio joining Houston in the South and leaving Dallas and Oklahoma in the Southwest. Others favor moving Dallas to the South, and yet others believe that Pittsburgh could be returned to the Central Division, which would create space in the Northeast for a Boston or Hartford franchise. Of course, if Miami is the chosen 30th franchise, there will be pressure to relocate Charlotte, which could push them somewhat uncomfortably into the NE Division, again sending Pittsburgh to the Central. And if Salt Lake City or Kansas City are chosen, well, that all but blows up the SW Division, with Dallas, Oklahoma or the expansion San Antonio team having to find a new home in either the South or the Central Division.

This is all speculation at this point. But, within the next year we should know exactly who the finalists are and, from there, which city is being added to the USFL family. That will almost certainly force some reallocation of teams, but it is certainly far too early to know just how and where teams will show up at this point. So, we wait and wonder.

Week three is a big week for many teams around the USFL, but none more than the clubs sitting at 0-2 and trying their best to avoid an 0-3 start. We have 8 teams in that situation, so let’s focus on them as we look ahead at the week’s schedule. No games with winless teams on Friday, but we do have a huge divisional game with Houston visiting New Orleans in what has quickly become a pretty solid rivalry of two “Bayou” teams.

Saturday starts us off with 3 winless teams in action at noon. We have Jacksonville playing in division against the 1-1 Atlanta Fire and we have a battle of winless clubs as the Dragons travel to DC to face the Federals. Washington was walloped by the league’s other Pacific Northwest club this past week; can they avoid an 0-2 home record against the region by knocking off the Dragons? We have 3 more 0-2 clubs in action in the later slots as well, with Baltimore traveling to Birmingham to take on a Cam-Newtonless Stallions squad in a 7pm ET start. Then, in the nightcap, it is Las Vegas at San Diego, with both preseason playoff hopefuls trying to avoid a nasty 0-3 start to their seasons.

On Sunday we have two more winless clubs, both with pretty tough assignments as they are both home but hosting a 2-0 club that has looked very good this year. At noon it is the Bandits hosting Charlotte, though it is a weakened Monarchs club with injuries that could keep three key players out: WR Justin Blackmon, LB Rolando McClain and DE Chandler Jones. Is that enough to turn the tide towards the homestanding Tampa Bay Bandits? Then, in the final game of the week, we have Chicago hosting their rivals from Michigan. The Panthers come to Chi-Town at 2-0 and looking very much like the club that drove their way to a title last year. Can the Machine find a way to throw a wrench in the gears of Michigan’s season or will the Panthers roll on to 3-0 and send Chicago into a deep hole at 0-3? Looks like a week of reckoning for many teams, so tune in and get ready for some intense early season football.

Friday @ 6pm ET         Arizona (1-1) @ New Jersey (1-1)             NBC

Friday @ 8pm ET           Houston (2-0) @ New Orleans (2-0)          ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET   Jacksonville (0-2) @ Atlanta (1-1)             ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET     Seattle (0-2) @ Washinton (0-2)               FOX

Saturday @ 4pm ET       Oklahoma (2-0) @ Memphis (1-1)            ABC

Saturday @ 4pm ET       Oakland (2-0) @ Ohio (1-1)                       FOX

Saturday @ 7pm ET       Baltimore (1-1) @ Birmingham (0-2)         NBC     

Saturday @ 9pm ET       Las Vegas (0-2) @ San Diego (0-2)            ESPN/EFN

Sunday @ 12pm ET      Charlotte (2-0) @ Tampa Bay (0-2)           ABC

Sunday @ 12pm ET        Orlando (1-1) @ St. Louis (1-1)                 FOX Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET        Portland (2-0) @ Philadelphia (1-1)          FOX Regional

Sunday @ 4pm ET         Denver (2-0) @ Dallas (1-1)                        ABC

Sunday @ 4pm ET          Pittsburgh (1-1) @ Los Angeles (1-1)        FOX

Sunday @ 8pm ET         Michigan (2-0) @ Chicago (0-2)                 ESPN/EFN