2022 USFL Week 2 Recap: Overreaction Time

Week Two and the gloves have come off. We had Chicago staking their claim to the Central with a dominant win over Michigan, Arizona announcing that they, and QB Ryan Nassib, were back as they throttled the Oklahoma Outlaws. We had New England upending Washington to start the year 2-0, and we saw Houston return to form, though they did it in a very odd way, with Colt McCoy missing most of the 2^nd half once again. We will run through all the action, give you our very early overreactions to the first two weeks of the season, take a look at what could be a rough week 3 for several teams with their starting QBs potentially out of commission, and lament the loss of a talented rookie for Coach Harbaugh and the Portland Stags. All that is right here, right now, on This Week in the USFL.

A Rough Week for QBs Begins Before First Game

After an opening week that barely had any injury news at all, you had to have a feeling that the universe would equalize itself in Week 2, and you would have been right, with no fewer than 5 starting QBs missing action because of injury, and one ruled out of action before Week 2’s games even started. The good news is that none of the QB injuries appear to be major and all 5 QBs could be back as soon as Week 4, but it was a week for us to remember just how fragile a team can be, and particularly a team that is reliant on their QB.

It started on Friday, when the Pittsburgh Maulers reported that their starter, Andy Dalton, was likely to miss Week 2’s home matchup against Jacksonville after having his foot stepped on by center T. J. Johnson during morning practice. By Saturday we learned that Dalton suffered stress fracture in his foot and could miss as many as 3 games, though the Maulers certainly hope it is only 1. With Dalton certainly sidelined for Week 2, it meant that rookie Kenny Pickett, the Pitt product, would return to Heinz Field as the starter against Jacksonville. Pickett would play well, throwing for 315 yards and 2 scores against the visiting Bulls, but in the end Jacksonville would pull the game out.

Dalton would prove to be only the first USFL QB to go out in week 2. In addition to the Red Rifle, game action over the weekend saw LA’s Kyler Murray, New England’s Ryan Tannehill, and Michigan’s Kirk Cousins join the injury list for this week. Colt McCoy, the 5^th QB to miss action due to injury, was removed from Houston’s game against Memphis, but after being evaluated on the sideline, would return to finish out the game and Houston’s first win of the season. McCoy’s injury appears to have been an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. As for the others, Kyler Murray is now in concussion protocol after taking a tough shot from former Thunder LB and current Dallas enforcer Myles Jack. He is listed as Doubtful for Week 2. Ryan Tannehill is also listed as doubtful after he suffered a foot injury trying to complete a foot-first slide. The awkward scramble and slide caught his foot underneath him, and the 6’4” QB hobbled to the sideline, where he watched C. J. Beathard take the win for the Steamrollers.

Kirk Cousins apparently injured his hamstring against Chicago. He did not miss any action, but has been held out of practice this week and is listed as questionable for Michigan’s next game, a tough home game against the Seattle Dragons. If Cousins cannot go, it will be veteran backup Taylor Heinecke taking the Panthers into action against Seattle. If Tannehill cannot return, we will see more of C. J. Beathard, while Los Angeles will turn to former General Nick Foles once again if Kyler Murray cannot go against San Antonio. As for the Maulers, expect to see Kenny Pickett again this week as once again Andy Dalton is listed as “Out” due to his stress fracture. With many fans hoping to see a Dalton-to-Pickett handoff this year, the early action for the rookie seems to be a possible audition for the starting job, even when Dalton is able to return.

ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 17  OHIO GLORY 18

What do you get when you put two of the most exciting dual threat quarterbacks in the modern game on the same field at the same time? Well, a defensive clash that produces no QB rushing touchdowns and only 35 total points, of course. Yes, the St. Louis v. Ohio clash in the Central Division did not feature the dynamic runs we all hoped for, but it was still a heck of a game. Both defenses spied the opposing QB, leading to a combined 43 yards of offense between them, with Ohio’s Justin Fields getting a decisive edge 37-6. In fact, the run game for both teams, including QB runs, proved pretty ineffective as the two defenses were ready for misdirection and RPO plays. The visiting Skyhawks managed only 69 rushing yards on the day, most of those on a single John Conner 26-yard run, while Ohio got only62 total yards, with Kenneth Walker only taking the handoff 3 times in the game and Trey Sermon also limited to 3 carries.

This was a game about defense and passing when the opportunity arose. The two teams combined to go only 9 of 30 on third down, producing a lot of stunted drives and missed opportunities. Each had one turnover, a Lamar Jackson pick early in the game and a fumble by WR Dontrelle Inman in the 3^rd quarter. For the better part of the game the best plays were big hits from Ryan Shazier (Ohio) and Trey Hendrickson (STL) and a lone deep ball from Jackson to WR Allen Robinson, one setting up the only touchdown of the first half.

St. Louis was trailing the homestanding Ohio Glory 9-0 on three Robbie Gould field goals when Jackson found Robinson on a nice double move. The play could have stopped after 17 yards or so, but Robinson escaped the tackle and rambled for another 33 yards before being caught from behind. That play would lead, only 2 plays later, to Jackson using the threat of the run to draw in the safety and looping the ball to Robinson once again for the game’s first touchdown. It produced a 9-7 score that would hold to the half.

In the 3^rd, Ohio once again was forced to bring out Robbie Gould when their opening drive of the half was stymied at the St. Louis 18. Gould gave them a 12-7 lead, which made no one comfortable. And well it shouldn’t because on their next possession, St. Louis appeared to have another long touchdown, this time Jackson finding Deionte Johnson in man coverage. The Skyhawk offense celebrated before seeing the yellow flag on the field. Holding brought the 31-yard toss back and 2 plays later St. Louis was forced to settle for a 45-yard field goal and a 10-12 deficit.

Both teams unable to consistently run the ball, we saw 12 combined punts in the game, with both teams relying a bit too heavily on blown coverages to make first downs. Both defenses played well throughout, but one of those blown coverages helped St. Louis get their first lead two-thirds of the way through the final period. This was not a double move, simply a poor matchup of defensive call with the play the offense ran. The man coverage called by Ohio left slot receiver Jakobi Meyers in single coverage with a linebacker, and as good as Steven Daniels is, he is not going to keep pace with Meyers. The Skyhawk receiver raced 24 yards on a 3^rd and 4 and got the Skyhawks into range for what would be a lead-changing field goal, but they never had to attempt the kick. On 4 consecutive plays, St. Louis found gaps, moving the ball 21 yards in those plays and celebrating when James Conner darted off tackle and around the corner to paydirt to give St. Louis a 17-12 lead with 6:18 left to play.

The celebration on the St. Louis sideline was muted. After all, every pro player knows that 6 minutes is an eternity in this game. But, when Ohio was forced to punt after only 3 plays, you could feel the Skyhawks starting to get excited about a 2-0 start to the season. The only problem was that on 1^st and 10 from their own 22, the Skyhawks were called for a chop block, meaning that they would now face 1^st and 20, and yes, 3 plays later, and with only 1:01 taken off the clock, they punted the ball back to Ohio with a more than ample 2:29 on the clock.

Ohio had one last shot to steal away the 2-0 start, to earn a win in their home opener, and to get their fans excited about the season ahead. And when a boost was needed, it was a very familiar face that gave it to them, a face most fans had been watching for years even though this was only his sophomore campaign with the Glory. QB Justin Fields had a breakout season in his rookie campaign with the Glory, playing in the same city, though not the same stadium, where he had gained national attention with the Buckeyes. In this, his 2^nd season with the team, he had already had one nail biting win, a 16-15 victory over Jacksonville in Jacksonville the week before. In that game he rushed for only 1 yard but led the Glory to a 4^th quarter victory with a TD toss to Terry McClaurin with only 15 ticks left on the clock.

Today, in front of the home fans, he would spark a final minute victory with a huge run on 3^rd and 5. Down at his own 31, needing 5 yards to keep the drive moving, Fields faked a screen out to Kenneth Walker, his rookie tailback, kept the ball, evaded the initial tackler, and scrambled for 19 yards to not only earn the first down but to move the ball to the 50. He took a huge hit on the play, the kind that sent the Ohio crowd calling for a penalty, but as he shook off the hit and got back to the huddle, he smiled, a sign that the young QB was both fine and feeling the zone.

On the next play he would hit Curtis Samuel for 15 yards, then find Inman for 9 more. As the clock kept ticking he spiked the ball after a short scramble to pick up the last yard for a first down. 23 seconds left, the ball at the St. Louis 24. Fields was feeling it. He found Richard Rodgers for 6, then dumped the ball down to Trey Sermon on a play that got the ball to the 12 and another first down. The Glory tried to fake out the Skyhawks with a draw by Sermon, but it gained only 3 yards and forced the Glory to use their last timeout with15 seconds on the clock. It would have to be passes from this point forward.

On 2^nd and 7 from the 9, Fields was flushed to his right and threw the ball out of bounds to stop the clock with 11 seconds left. On 3^rd and 7 he spotted the upcoming blitz from St. Louis safety Terrell Edmunds, called a solid protection plan, dropped back, stepping to his right and throwing a laser into the endzone, where TE Richard Rodgers was waiting. Rodgers hauled in the pass, spun in place, then spiked it to the turf, the game winning touchdown.

The Skyhawks would knock down the 2-point conversion attempt, leaving them down one but with only 8 seconds of clock left. Ohio squibbed the kick and, after a short return, the game was over. Ohio, for a second week in a row, had pulled out a come-from-behind victory in the 4^th quarter. They were 2-0, sharing the top spot in the Central with Chicago, and gearing up for a monster contest in Week 3, when the unbeaten and 2-time defending champion Tampa Bay Bandits would be coming to town.

ATLANTA 13  BALTIMORE 43

Hard to see how this game got out of hand for Atlanta by looking at the stats, a 307-320 yardage difference, only 1 turnover, but look closer and you see a 33-26 time of possession advantage for the Blitz, and then 103 yards in penalties for the Fire, and you begin to see the picture. When you see that the Blitz scored on 9 of 10 possessions, including 5 Andrew Franks field goals, while Atlanta scored only 3 of 11 possessions, well, then the picture is clear.

POTG: Blitz LB Anthony Hitchens: 9 Tck, 2 TFL, 2 Sck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

OAKLAND 16  PORTLAND 22 OVERTIME

Coach Harbaugh got his first win, but it took extra time to get there as the Stags went down 16-7 at the half, only to storm back with 15 unanswered points following the break. Davis Mills, who was 9 or 11 in the first half, went 5 of 13 in the second, with a pick and only 1 converted 2^nd down. The Stags got 3 second half field goals to send the game to overtime, then got a pair of nice completions from Marcus Mariota (36 of 54 on the day) to Brandin cooks (9 Rec, 96 yds) to get the ball deep into Oakland territory, where Mariota found Alshon Jefferey for the game winner.

POTG: Portland QB Marcus Mariota: 36/54, 325 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int

PHILADELPHIA 7  ORLANDO 10

An ugly game in rainy Orlando, where lightning stopped the game for over an hour. In sloppy conditions both run games were mired, with Derrick Henry rushing for only 46 yards while Chris Carson managed only 39. Wilson hit Braxton Berrios for a 1^st quarter TD, then Wentz did the same with TE Travis Kelce, but once the rain really picked up it was a war of field position, with Orlando getting in range for a late field goal to pull the game out in the 4^th. No fun for the fans in the stands and not much more fun to watch on TV either.

POTG: Philadelphia LB Jonathan Bostic: 14 Tck, 1 Sck

NEW ORLEANS 36  NEW JERSEY 6

New Jersey could have used some rain, maybe that would have slowed down Geno Smith and the Breaker offense. Smith threw for 269 and 3 scores, while DeMarco Murray hit the 100-yard mark with 113 and a score on 25 carries. Meanwhile, Teddy Bridgewater looked out of synch with his receivers, throwing 3 picks and struggling to convert on 3^rd down. After two first quarter field goals, the Generals were shut down and watched as New Orleans scored 36 unanswered to blow the game open.

POTG: Breaker WR Jordy Nelson: 4 Rec, 133 Yds, 1 TD

ARIZONA 37  OKLAHOMA 10

Little drama in this one as the Wranglers built up a 17-3 halftime lead and then kept the pressure on all game long, with Bud Dupree landing 2 of the team’s 5 sacks of Jalen Hurts and both Carey and Allgeier topping 100 yards against an overwhelmed Outlaw D. Ka’Deem Carey rushed 18 times for 108 while the rookie, Allgeier, had 126 on only 11 carries, including 3 touchdowns, two of them from more than 30 yards out (36 and 34).

POTG: Wrangler HB Tyler Allgeier: 11 Att, 126 Yds, 3 TD

DALLAS 10  LOS ANGELES 15

The offense was not up to speed this time, but the Express D did their job, picking off Justin Herbert 3 times, sacking him 5 times and limiting Dallas to only 69 yards rushing. All that was needed as Kyler Murray suffered a shot to the head in the first half and Nick Foles struggled (7 of 16) throughout the rest of the game. But, despite the QB change, and being down 10-3 early in the 3^rd, the Express D more than did their job, shutting out Dallas down the stretch and putting the final 6 on the board when Jamar Taylor returned his second pick of the game 66 yards in the final 3 minutes to turn a 10-9 deficit into a 15-10 victory for LA.

POTG: Express CB Jamar Taylor: 4 Tck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD

HOUSTON 37   MEMPHIS 24

Another weird game for Colt McCoy as he took a shot early in the 3^rd quarter, watched as Landry Jones put 14 on the board with TDs to Mike Evans and Riley Ridley, then returned to action after the doctors cleared him. McCoy finished 13 of 19 for 241 and 1 TD, while Jones went 4 of 5 and had 2 scores in a very strange give & take between the two Houston QBs. For Memphis, QB remains a concern as Blake Bortles threw two more picks, but the good news was that Todd Gurley got on track, rushing for 125 and a score. Not enough to get the W against the Gamblers but at least a sign of life from the Memphis O.

POTG: Houston LB Kamalei Correa: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR

MICHIGAN 17  CHICAGO 43

A dominant win by the Machine as they outgain Michigan 479-251 and take advantage of 4 Panther turnovers to roll their division rivals. Tony Jones Jr. rushed for 95 yards on only 9 carries, breaking off 3 runs over 20 yards, while Sam Bradford reveled in the presence of OBJ on his team, finding the former General wideout 5 times for 105 yards and 2 scores. Michigan drops to 1-1 after watching their offense turn the ball over 4 times, including 2 surprising fumbles from LeVeon Bell, who has never fumbled more than 3 times in a season, but coughed up the ball twice in this game.

POTG: Chicago QB Sam Bradford: 20/33, 317 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int

WASHINGTON 13   NEW ENGLAND 19  OVERTIME

The Steamrollers are 2-0 and feeling good, despite an injury to Ryan Tannehill that may cost him next week’s game. Rookie Breece Hall topped 100 yards, going for 109 on 17 carries in his 2^nd pro game. Tannehill threw for 2 scores before having to leave the game, but C. J. Beathardcame in and got the game winner in overtime, an 8-yard connection with veteran Doug Baldwin. Washington got the game-tying TD from Travis Etienne in the 3^rd, but neither team could score in the 4^th, sending the game to overtime, where the Steamrollers thrilled their home crowd with a game-winning drive.

POTG: Steamroller HB Breece Hall: 17 Att, 109 Yds

JACKSONVILLE 27  PITTSBURGH 21

With Andy Dalton out (see above), the Maulers were still in the game, but fall at home to Coach Mike Vrabel and the Bulls. Rookie Kenny Pickett got the start and went 24 for 31 for 315 yards and 2 TDs, but the defense struggled to contain the Bulls, with Cook and Hubbard combining for 154 yards rushing. Trevor Lawrence threw for only 213, but managed the game well and found both Tee Higgins and Eric Ebron for touchdowns to help the Bulls pull their record to 1-1.

POTG: Bull CB Keenan Lewis: 7 Tck, 2 FF, 1 FR

TAMPA BAY 28  CHARLOTTE 17

While Tampa Bay pulled out to a 21-7 lead in the 3^rd, the Monarchs did not go away, putting up 10 points in the 3^rd to make it close. Dak Prescott impressed, throwing for 341 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 2 to Dez Bryant. Paxton Lynch went 28 of 36 for 240 yards, but could not put enough points on the board to stay with the explosive Bandits.

POTG: Bandit QB Dez Bryant: 15/23, 341 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int

SAN ANTONIO 17  BIRMINGHAM 24

Cam Newton did Cam stuff, and that meant using his legs and his arms to get the home win for the Stallions. Newton threw for only 156 yards, but did have 2 passing touchdowns. He also ran well, gaining 97 yards on 12 carries, including a 68-yard TD run in the 3^rd quarter that helped the Stallions fight back from a 14-0 deficit. Newton followed that score with a game-tying strike to Najee Harris and then capped it off in the 4^th when he hit Henry Ruggs for what would prove to be the game winner.

POTG: Stallion QB Cam Newton: 17/25, 156 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int, 12 Att, 97 Yds, 1 TD

SEATTLE 21  SAN DIEGO 17

Coach Becht had his San Diego Thunder ready to play as the home underdogs built up a 17-7 lead on defending Western Conference Champion Seattle. But, two 2^nd half touchdowns by the Dragons proved to be enough to take the W. The first was a Gus Edwards 1-yard plunge after a 50-yard completion from Hundley to Cooper got the ball to the goalline. The second was a beautiful toss from Hundley to Devin Funchess on a scramble that put the game in Seattle’s favor. For San Diego, it was Charles Sims early, gaining 73 of his 102 yards in the first half.

POTG: Seattle WR Amari Cooper: 6 Rec, 131 Yds

Week Two Overreactions

We have played 30 games, two weeks of USFL action and that makes it time for the overreactions, early season jubilance or premature panic to set in. Fanbases are either extremely overconfident or incredibly concerned at a time of year when no team has fully set its identity yet and nothing can be called a trend. So, what do we do about that? Let’s bring to the forefront the wildest overreactions we are hearing and determine if any hold water. From unwarranted victory laps to unnecessary hand wringing, we will dispel the myths that are turning into talking points on sports radio and message boards around the league. Here are 7 such speculations with our best assessment of how realistic any of them are.

Tampa Bay Set for Threepeat

It did not take long for Bandit Nation to start boasting and preparing the “Threepeat” t-shirts and bumper stickers. Sure, their club has looked very good in defeating both Baltimore and Charlotte, but we would not exactly say that they have hit the toughest stretch of their season yet. The Bandits have a huge matchup in Ohio this week, then have a run from Weeks 5 through 7 where they will face the Renegades both home and away and sandwich a very tough Houston squad in between.

All that said, of course Tampa Bay is a favorite for the Summer Bowl and a possible unprecedented 3^rd straight title. They have the league’s top rated QB after 2 weeks, are in the Top 5 in points and in points allowed, and they have all the confidence in the world, but to call them a lock after 2 weeks, that is in no way warranted. Overconfidence can be a weight on any team, one that keeps them from fulfilling their potential, so let’s hope the cockiness of Bandit Nation is limited to the fans and not the players or the organization.

OUR ASSESSMENT: Early but not necessarily wrong.

New England Can Compete for NE Division

Another fanbase starting to make some noise are the “Boiler Brigade” as the fans in New England have named themselves. Their Steamrollers are now 2-0, having knocked off two division rivals in Philadelphia and Washington to start the season. They have one of the league’s best run games, led by what looks like a dynamite rookie pick in Iowa State tailback Breece Hall, and they are making believers out of what had been a pretty jaded fanbase in New England (after losing both the Boston Breakers and Boston Cannons to relocation). It is very early, and already we are seeing health issues for QB Ryan Tannehill, but Coach Fox and the Steamrollers are looking very competitive if nothing else. Maybe don’t purchase your tickets to D.C. and Summer Bowl 2022 quite yet, but by all means, do get on the bandwagon now, because we think the team is well-coached and has the talent needed to compete in the Northeast.

OUR ASSESSMENT: On the Right Track, but Not a Smooth Road Yet.

Breakers Are Back in Form

This one we have no doubt on. Yes, the Breakers are back to being the team we saw from 2018-2020 and are fast putting last year’s 6-10 dip behind them. Geno Smith is averaging nearly 280 yards per game, Jordy Nelson and Justin Jefferson are that much tougher to defend with the Breakers using both Knox and Fleener in more 2-TE formations, and DeMarco Murray is finally looking like the back the Breakers traded for. All that adds up to a team that is 2^nd in the league in scoring, 4^th in passing yards, and with a QB who is on a tear, with a 128.8 QB rating and a 7:0 TD to INT ratio. We think it is real. We think it can last. The only issue we see is potential injury to Smith, which certainly derailed the season last year, but outside of that, yes, it is a good time to be excited about the Breakers.

OUR ASSESSMENT: The tide is high and these Breakers are cresting.

Stars Are In Deep Trouble

It is feast and famine for Stars fans. One year they are way down, the next they rise to the top of the division, and it all seems to stem from how they perform in the opening month of the season. Their hot start last year spurred the Stars on to the division title, though it was a fight. An 0-2 start this year has the Star Legion worried. Should they be? Well, honestly, yes. What has us worried is that there are two things happening in the opening weeks which do not bode well. First is that teams are proving effective in bottling up King Henry. The Stars’ biggest star has only 102 yards in his first two outings and the team as a whole is 23^rd in rushing. The Stars are not built to be a wide open spread team, they are designed to run the ball and throw off of that. The other concern, at least an early concern, is turnovers. Only 2 games in and the Stars are -5 in turnover margin, having coughed the ball up 6 times with only 1 takeaway. Not too many teams claim a division title with those kinds of numbers.

OUR ASSESSMENT: There is time to turn it around, but watch those 2 stats for signs of life. 

Chicago Owns the Central

In the immortal word of USFL Coach and Commentator Lee Corso, “Not so fast my friend.”. Yes, Chicago has looked very good, especially with this week’s blowout of the Panthers. They are 2-0 overall and in the division, in the league’s top 10 in both rushing and passing, and they have the top overall defense in both scoring and yards allowed. Clearly bringing in Odell Beckham Jr. was a great move for Sam Bradford, and the HB rotation is working. So, why are we putting the breaks on?  We think the Machine are looking very good, but Ohio is also 2-0 and playing some very good defense as well. While we like Chicago’s odds, we don’t want to concede the division quite yet. Not until we see how Ohio fares against Tampa Bay this week and how the two face off when they first meet in Week 4. That will be the game that tells us if this is a runaway for the Windy City or a dogfight in the division.

OUR ASSESSMENT: Give it 2 weeks before you pop the champagne.

Bortles a Bust

The “Yacht Club”, Memphis’s group of diehard supporters, is already up in arms. They are upset that Paxton Lynch left, upset that the Showboats did not make a deal to get a shot at a rookie QB like Desmond Ridder or Malik Willis, and outright incensed that the plan appeared to be to go with Blake Bortles as Plan A. Bortles did get 4 starts in 2021, and, well, he did not impress, throwing for more picks than touchdowns and earning only a 75.1 QB Rating. To Coach Ryan and the Showboats’ defense, many NFL quarterbacks struggle their first year in the league due to the lack of an offseason and the newness of their situation. But, two games into 2022 and we are seeing very much the same Bortles, if not worse. The Memphis QB currently sits with a QB Rating of 51.0, has thrown 6 picks to only 2 touchdowns, and looks far less mobile than even fans of the former UCF quarterback expected.  Does it look like the Showboat brass made a mistake here? Yes, it does.

OUR ASSESSMENT: Without rapid improvement, Bortles looks like a bust.

Allgeier a Surprise ROTY Favorite

There is no doubt that after only 2 games, we would have to include Allgeier among the frontrunners for Rookie of the Year. After a debut game where he had 49 yards and his first pro touchdown, he amped it up in Week 2 against Oklahoma, rushing for 126 yards and 3 scores while still not getting as many touches as Ka’Deem Carey. We think that Allgeier could well balance the workload with Carey over time, and that even with only 10-15 touches per game, he could stay in the running for ROTY, but we also think that others, like New England’s Breece Hall, will get even more touches and have a chance to do more, but it will be a fun race to watch.

OUR ASSESSMENT: The potential is there, but 16 games is a long road.

Portland Rookie Possibly Lost for Season

Life is tough in Stag Nation, or is it tough for a team in stagnation? If it seems like the dreary rainy spring in Portland is a perfect metaphor for the city’s USFL club, you may not be far off the mark. Yes, the Stags had a good game this week, knocking off Oakland 22-16, but in doing so they suffered a blow that could impact them for the rest of the year. Their star rookie selection, taken in the Territorial Draft, former Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, suffered a torn PCL in the game and is expected to be out no less than 2 months. Thibodeaux has yet to record his first sack and is already out for at least half the season. The Stags won’t put the DE on the injured reserve list, hoping he can recover in time for a Week 10 or 12 return (with a bye in Week 11, Week 12 seems a good bet), but that will depend on his recovery and healing.

The Stags had put a lot on Thibodeaux’s plate, a lot of hopes and a lot of expectations. After getting only marginal return on their last Oregon Duck DE, Dion Jordan, the Stags were hoping that this time they had hit the jackpot. Right now, at least, they seem to have rolled snake eyes.

The injuries to USFL quarterbacks, and the major loss of DE Kayvon Thibodeaux are not the only injury stories this week as the trials of pro football have begun to be felt across the league. Oakland may be without star HB Christian McCaffrey, who suffered a sprain in the arch of his left foot. LA could be without both their QB and their center as Max Tuerk was also sent into the concussion protocol along with Kyler Murray. He is one of 3 centers on the injury list this week, with both Hroniss Grasu and Greg Mancz listed as “out”. Even veteran DE Calais Campbell could miss this week’s game after suffering a laceration on his hand when it was stepped on by a lineman hoping to keep him from grabbing at Aaron Murray’s from the ground, a play being investigated for a possible fine if it appears the lineman stomped on Campbell instead of simply stepping awkwardly.

OUT

DE          Kayvon Thibodeaux     POR      Torn PCL                  8-12 Weeks

LB           Brandon Jenkins             BAL        Neck                         1-2 Weeks

QB         Andy Dalton                PIT         Stress Fracture         1-2 Weeks

C             Hroniss Grasu                  SDG      Collarbone               1-2 Weeks

C             Greg Mancz                    NOR      Hip                            1-2 Weeks

DE          Victor Abiami                  CHI        Hand                         1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

QB         Ryan Tannehill                 NE          Foot                                     

QB         Kyler Murray                  LA          Concussion

OT          Austin Corbett                 OKL       Concussion

OT          Larry Brown                   NOR      Hip

DE          Calais Campbell             BAL        Hand

CB          Shaquille Richardson   LV           Knee

QUESTIONABLE

QB         Kirk Cousins                  MGN     Hamstring

CB          Jaire Alexander              SEA        Foot

CB          Tre Norwood                 OKL       Toe

C             Max Tuerk                      LA          Concussion

HB         Christian McCaffrey     OAK      Foot

Global Warming or Pure Luck?

For the first time in nearly 15 years, the USFL has played the opening two weeks of its season without any snow-impacted games. Yes, there was still snow on the ground in Week 1, in places like Chicago, and Detroit, but not on the field, and no snow in the air when the games were played. In Week 2 we did have a pretty severe weather impact, but it was in Orlando and it was rain, not snow. Can the league actually get through its opening month with no snow on the field? Don’t count on it. We have snow in the forecast for several games this week, including matchups at Foxboro (Denver @ New England) and New Jersey (Blitz @ Generals), with an icy mix possible in D.C. when the Federals host Orlando. And, besides, the odds that we see no snow at all in Denver over the next few weeks seem pretty slim. The Gold host New Jersey next week and then Oklahoma the week after. It would be truly odd if there were no white stuff for either game. But, at least for 2 weeks, the USFL has been snow-free, a rarity and a pleasant development for both fans in the stands and staff of ticket sales teams across the league.

NFL Quarterback Baker Mayfield Eyes USFL?  

The much-maligned first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, quarterback Baker Mayfield, last of Cleveland, signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers this offseason, turning away a deal from at least 2 USFL teams, but he certainly does not appear to be brushing off the league. In an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer before leaving his first NFL home, Mayfield expressed interest in the spring league, saying he almost had a deal in place with at least one unnamed teams (we believe it was San Diego), but the deal fell through and so he signed on with the Panthers for a 1-year “prove it” deal.

Could Mayfield be on the field in May?

Why should USFL fans care? Well, Mayfield, who came out in the same year as USFL stars Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, is still considered a talented player and one who has suffered under some pretty miserable coaching in the NFL. With Cleveland, Mayfield had some moments, showing the ability to keep plays alive and make throws on the run. His line in Cleveland was a shambles, his receivers sub par, and his head coaches, well, let’s say short-lived. The former draft pick of the Washington Federals, in a deal with the Outlaws, joined the spring league out of college, but got a deal he could not refuse from the troubled Browns. Mayfield played 4 seasons in Cleveland and now has a year to prove himself in Carolina. Barring a renegotiation, we would expect Mayfield to return to free agency in January, with another NFL-USFL Transfer Window opening. There are certainly USFL teams who would be interested, so don’t rule out the possibility that by next season we could see 4 of the 5 “First Round” QB prospects in the USFL, with Josh Rosen jumping over to the Atlanta Fire this year after a shaky start in the NFL and both Allen and Jackson finding success with their original USFL clubs. The only one missing would be Sam Darnold, signed by the NY Jets, but already cast aside and now playing in Carolina, where he will compete with Mayfield for the starting job.

USFL 40 Greatest: 37-35

We are back with our next 3 entrants into the Greatest 40 Players in 40 Years of the USFL. Numbers 37, 36, and 35 bring us a legendary defender, our list's 2nd kicking specialist, and the first offensive "hands" player on the list. Three names that will be very familiar to USFL fans.

37) LB Kurt Gouveia (DEN 1986-2001)

We expect we have just irritated and angered a good swath of the Denver Gold fanbase by placing their star linebacker in the 37 slot, one space behind a kicker. We can all debate whether any kicker is more valuable than a 4-time All-USFL linebacker, one who was DPOTY in 1988 and a Hall of Fame enshrinee in 2006. We understand, but we think that the best kicker in USFL history deserves his share of limelight as well.

Back to Gouveia, the 16-year veteran and 11-year team captain of the Denver Gold defense was certainly a force to reckon with. He retired after the 2001 season with over 1,300 tackles, 60 forced fumbles, 42 sacks and 174 tackles for loss. He was feared and respected, and he absolutely deserves to be in our Top 40. We will let you decide if he truly deserves to be higher after you see the other 36 picks.

36) K Tim Mazzetti (BOS/NOR 1983-1994)

Ask any USFL fan, who is the one kicker that should represent the best of the USFL’s first 40 years, and we think the name that you will hear most often will be the “Kicking Bartender”, Tim Mazzetti. Mazzetti played 12 seasons with the Breakers, beginning his career at windy Nickerson Field in Boston before getting the cushy gig of kicking inside the Super Dome in New Orleans. What he did with the opportunity is what makes Mazzetti our Top 40 for 40 kicker.

Despite retiring way back in 1994, Mazzetti still holds the league records for most field goals attempted in a season (53 in 1990) and field goals made (48, also in 1990), and while Breaker fans bemoan the facts that kicking field goals not scoring touchdowns kept their outstanding teams in the late 80’s and early 90’s from winning a title, they never bemoan the fact that Tim Mazzetti was their kicker. His point total from that 1990 season, 162 points, remains the league’s all-time record. His career total of 367 field goals made may no longer be the best in the league, but his per-season point average of 132 points per season remains a nearly unimaginable target for today’s best kickers. In fact, when you look at active kickers, only Kai Forbath has topped 132 points per year more than twice in his career. The legend of Tim Mazzetti and his foot remains very much one of the USFL’s favorites, so we think it fitting that he joins so many greats on this list.

35) TE Adrian Cooper (POR 1991-94, MEM 1995-2006)

Six picks in and we finally get our first offensive “skill position” player. We expect that you will find several more along the way from here to the top spot. But the first on our list is certainly not playing second fiddle to anyone. Adrian Cooper played 16 seasons in the USFL, first coming on the scene as a rookie with the Portland Thunder, but most known for his years in Memphis. Cooper caught 55 passes in his rookie campaign, with 6 touchdowns for the Thunder. He would go on to catch 870 more over his illustrious career, winning All-USFL honors 8 times and bringing home a championship ring with the 1995 Showboats.

Cooper was a classic “block out” tight end, able to use his size to put himself between the ball and the defender. That skill helped him bring in 99 touchdowns in his 16-year career, and helped earn him Hall of Fame induction in 2010, only the 3^rd tight end to make the hall after Shannon Sharpe and Keith Jackson. Will both of those Hall of Fame Tight Ends be on our list too? We shall see, but the first offensive star to make the 40 for 40 list is a good one, to be sure, Adrian Cooper.

Looking over Week 3, we have ourselves a nice mix of divisional and interdivisional matchups, including a battle of 2-0 clubs on Saturday. We kick the week off with two very intriguing matchups, with Baltimore and New Jersey, both 1-1 after 2 weeks, facing off in the Meadowlands. That game is on NBC while down the dial at ESPN we have a Western Conference Clash between two early season favorites as Michigan hosts the Seattle Dragons. We may not know if Kirk Cousins can go in that game until kickoff, so that is certainly something for your gamblers and fantasy geeks to pay attention to.

Saturday’s big game is a battle of unbeatens as Tampa Bay heads to Columbus to face the Ohio Glory. Can the Glory slow down an offense that has brought the Bandits back-to-back titles? Or will Dak Prescott and the Bandits be too much for Justin Fields and Ohio to handle? While that game is a huge one on Saturday afternoon, don’ t miss a couple of great Southern Division rivalry games in the night slot. NBC will be showing Houston at New Orleans, where the unbeaten Breakers hope they can take an early lead in one of the league’s most balanced divisions. Simultaneously on ESPN and the ESPN Football Network, we will have a dual simulcast of Birmingham v. Memphis, the “World’s Greatest Barbecue” as these two southern rivals face off again, after what is sure to be a full day of some amazing tailgating outside the Liberty Bowl.

Sunday has 4 divisional games, with Charlotte and Atlanta restoking their rivalry, Pittsburgh headed to St. Louis without Andy Dalton suited up, Portland headed down to San Diego with Coach Becht hoping to get his Thunder their first win under his watch. Las Vegas heads to Arizona to face a very feisty Wrangler squad in the week’s nightcap, but before that, we think there will be a good watch in San Antonio, where Joe Flacco and the Gunslingers will try to find answers to that smothering LA Express defense. It’s only Week 3, but we are feeling some intensity already and hoping for more.

Fri. 7pm ET       Baltimore (1-1) @ New Jersey (1-1)                  NBC

Fri. 7pm ET         Seattle (1-1) @ Michigan (1-1)                          ESPN/EFN

Sat. 12pm ET     Denver (1-1) @ New England (2-0)                   ABC

Sat. 12pm ET     Tampa Bay (2-0) @ Ohio (2-0)                            FOX

Sat. 4pm ET       Oklahoma (1-1) @ Oakland (1-1)*                     ABC

Sat. 4pm ET       Philadelphia (0-2) @ Dallas (1-1)                      FOX

Sat. 8pm ET      Houston (1-1) @ New Orleans (2-0)*                 NBC

Sat. 8pm ET      Birmingham (1-1) @ Memphis (0-2)                  ESPN/EFN

Sun 12pm ET     Chicago (2-0) @ Jacksonville (1-1)                    ABC Regional

Sun 12pm ET   Charlotte (0-2) @ Atlanta (1-1)                         ABC Regional

Sun 12pm ET     Orlando (1-1) @ Washington (0-2)*                 FOX

Sun 4pm ET       Los Angeles (2-0) @ San Antonio (1-1)           ABC

Sun 4pm ET      Pittsburgh (0-2) @ St. Louis (1-1)                   FOX Regional

Sun 4pm ET      Portland (1-1) @ San Diego (0-2)*                     FOX Regional

Sun 8pm ET      Las Vegas (0-2) @ Arizona (2-0)                    EFN

"*" = Throwback uniforms to be worn.