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Cardale Jones Will Remain Starting QB for XFL's Defenders After Benching
March 8, 2020
DC Defenders quarterback Cardale Jones will remain the team's starting quarterback moving forward after being benched during Sunday's 15-6 victory over the St. Louis BattleHawks, coach Pep Hamilton said after the game, per USA Today's Tom Schad.
Hamilton revealed that Jones' benching had been planned.
Jones was benched for 22-year-old Tyree Jackson in the first quarter of the team's Sunday matinee against the BattleHawks.
Jackson threw a touchdown pass soon after taking over under center:
And Jones did not hold a grudge:
Jones went 0-of-2 with one interception before exiting the game. Jackson finished the game with 39 yards, one touchdown and no picks on 9-of-14 passing.
Jones made his name at Ohio State. The 27-year-old led the Buckeyes to the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, where they upset the No. 2 Oregon Ducks 42-20.
Rather than capitalize on his national buzz and enter the 2015 NFL draft, Jones returned for his junior campaign. He struggled and was benched in favor of J.T. Barrett, finishing the season with 1,459 yards, eight touchdowns and five picks across 10 games.
The Buffalo Bills selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, and Jones never found footing in the NFL. He appeared in one game for the Bills, completing six passes for 96 yards and one interception.
"Everybody's going to make a decision based on what they think is important to them, what they value, what they want to see their life end up (like) in the long run," Jones told Schad in December, answering whether he regrets forgoing the 2015 NFL draft.
"You’re not wrong or right for declaring or leaving early, or going back," he continued. "It's just what you think was right for you at that time in your life and your career."
Once landing in the XFL with the Defenders, Jones began rebuilding his NFL stock through the team's first two games. Jones led DC to a 2-0 start by going a combined 39-of-63 passing for 499 yards, four touchdowns and one pick:
However, similar to his trajectory at Ohio State, Jones saw his productivity eventually dwindle. He has not thrown a touchdown pass in the three games since the Defenders' 27-0 Week 2 win over the New York Guardians while tossing six interceptions in that span. That included a four-pick outing in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Wildcats.
By beating the BattleHawks 15-6, the Defenders improved to 3-2 and moved into a three-way tie with the BattleHawks and New York Guardians atop the XFL East division.