Arlington Renegades kicker #1 Taylor Russolino works out his leg while #0 Marquette King holds. (Twitter)
Arlington Renegades
Coming off a come-from-behind victory in week one against the Vegas Vipers, the Renegades battle in-state rival Houston at TDECU Stadium on Sunday night…WR Rannell Hall was placed on injured reserve this week. He was listed as a starter on the week one depth chart but did not play due to injury. Replacing him in the starting lineup will be Tyler Vaughns, who had four catches for 38 yards in the first game…Hall is replaced on the roster by WR Caleb Vander Esch, the cousin of Dallas Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch. Caleb was in training camp with the St. Louis Battlehawks…Two starters are listed as questionable on the team’s injury report: ILB Otaro Alaka and S Jamal Carter…
Head Coach Bob Stoops was recently on ESPN Sportscenter, talking about the XFL’s first week and the league’s unique rules…Punter Marquette King, one of the top players at his position for the Battlehawks in 2020, was expected to be a weapon for the Renegades this season. However, he averaged just 37.7 yards on three punts against the Vipers. He admitted on the broadcast that he had struggled with adjusting his mentality to keeping the ball in bounds, since the penalty for a punt landing out of bounds inside the 35 yard line is placement at the 35 yard line for the offense…
The Renegades are advertising their first-ever watch party at Bourbon St. Bar & Grill on Sunday night for the game against the Roughnecks…The Dallas News is covering the Renegades, under their “other sports” section. The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram also has a few Renegades stories, but most are behind a paywall…Arlington’s week one inactive players: QB Kevin Anderson, WR Rannell Hall, CB Jordan Miller, LB Edmond Robinson, LB Darnell Sankey, and OL Willie Beavers.
DC Defenders
The Defenders visit Vegas for a date against the Vipers on Saturday night. They’ll look to engineer a stronger offensive performance than they had in week one, where they managed just 177 yards in their win against Seattle…DC made one transaction this week, adding WR Brandon Smith and releasing WR Chad Hansen. Hansen was inactive in week one after being signed at the end of January. Smith was on the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys at the close of the NFL season. His signing brings the total number of players in the XFL that ended the NFL season on practice squads to 15…
Two starters are listed as “out” on the team’s injury report for the game against the Vipers: C Mike Maietti and DE Fadol Brown. They will likely be replaced by Ty Clary and Malik Fisher respectively. Everyone else on the injury report should be good to go for Saturday…The Defenders will hold a watch party at City-State Brewing for their game against Vegas. The brewery has a beer dedicated to the Defenders…
With Jordan Ta’amu’s struggles against the Roughnecks, D’Eriq King may get more of an opportunity at QB. While he’s not necessarily the passer Ta’amu is, he gives the defense a different look with his running ability. He scored the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter to put away the Sea Dragons…Inactive for DC in week one: QB Eric Dungey, DE Fadol Brown, WR Pooka Williams, WR Chad Hansen, DB Travon Fuller, OL D’Marcus Hayes.
Houston is the only team to have two home games in a row to start off the season. They host Arlington Sunday night on ESPN2 and ESPN+…A couple changes to the team’s unofficial depth chart from week one to week two: Jack Snyder and Dareuan Parker flip-flopped guard spots, with Snyder now listed as the starter at LG and Parker at RG. Cedric Byrd has been inserted into the starting lineup at WR in place of Travell Harris. That could be a product of Harris’s injured groin – he appears on the injury report for week two with that ailment…
On the transaction front, the team placed backup LB Duke Ejiofor on injured reserve. They signed OT Ryan Pope to take his place. Pope was a 2nd round pick of Seattle in the Supplemental Draft, but was released just before week one…Despite putting up the highest-scoring offense of any team last weekend, Houston isn’t getting much production out of its early-round skill position phase draft picks. Their first-round pick, RB Adrian Killins, was traded to Arlington in the preseason. Second round selection, TE Garrett Owens, was held without a catch on one target against Orlando…Inactive for Houston in week one: QB Kaleb Eleby, RB Brycen Alleyne, LB Deandre Johnson, WR Justin Smith, DB John Brannon, and OL Dylan Pasquali.
Orlando Guardians
The Guardians signed WR Lance Lenoir to their roster today, the 16th player to end the season on NFL practice squads to sign with the XFL. Lenoir was last with the LA Rams. He replaces CB Javaris Davis, who was placed on injured reserve…Also this week, the Guardians re-signed DT Keonte Schad, who had been with them in camp. They released DT Khristian Tate…On the team’s latest depth chart, Schad slots in as the backup NG. CJ Holmes, listed as starter at CB in week one, no longer appears. He’s replaced by Baylen Buchanan, while Shaq Wiggins steps in for Davis at the other CB spot. Mike Lee has also replaced Roman Tatum at the “Dragon” DB position…
On the injury front, WR Stephen Guidry is listed as “out” for Sunday’s matchup with the San Antonio Brahmas due to a concussion. Two others are listed as questionable: G Jordan Ighofose (knee) and Tatum (which could explain the depth chart flip)…Orlando recently announced a partnership with Miracle Toyota, making them the official Toyota partner of the Guardians…Orlando will need to shore up their offensive line this week if they are to have a chance against San Antonio. They surrendered seven sacks to the Roughnecks and appear to have made no changes to their offensive line this week.
San Antonio Brahmas
The Brahmas made a number of roster moves this week in preparation for their visit to Orlando to face the Guardians. Starting G Willie Wright was placed on injured reserve, while G Jordan McCray was activated from the reserve list. Wright will be replaced in the starting lineup by Kohl Levao. McCray was a 7th round Supplemental Draft selection who started five games at center for the Tampa Bay Vipers in 2020. Another starter, WR Landen Akers, was also placed on IR. Darece Roberson, Jr., replaces him as a starter. Akers led the Brahmas with seven receptions in week one.
WR Dan Williams was signed to add WR depth. Williams also played for Tampa Bay in 2020 under Brahmas offensive coordinator Jaime Elizondo, who held the same position in 2020 with the Vipers. G Maea Teuhema and CB Stephen Denmark were also signed. Denmark was a late cut in camp by the Brahmas, while Teuhema was let go by the Renegades on February 15. San Antono also released LB Joel Dublanko and TE Jamal Pettigrew. Dublanko was listed as a starter on the week one depth chart. Riko Jeffers takes his spot…
Starting QB Jack Coan appeared on this week’s injury report, getting in a limited practice with a hip issue…During the first game of the season, it was announced that San Antonio and the Alamodome would host the XFL Championship game on Saturday, May 13. Notable was the move to prime time and an 8pm EST start, as the game was originally slated to begin at 3pm EST…Inactive for week one: QB Jawon Pass, DB Kameron Kelly, WR Darece Roberson, Jr, DL Delontae Scott, OT Derrick Kelly, TE Jamal Pettigrew.
Seattle Sea Dragons
The Sea Dragons fell to 0-2 with a loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks on Thursday, despite holding a fourth quarter lead in both games…Likely due in part to the quick turnaround from their Sunday night game to Thursday night, there were no changes to the team’s depth chart for week two…Despite theoretically being one of the best receivers in the league, WR Josh Gordon saw just two targets against St. Louis in week two. The announcers mentioned that teams were double-teaming Gordon, which could explain that number…
RB Morgan Ellison out-carried Brendan Knox 10-3, though he is listed as the backup on the depth chart. Ellison impressed, averaging 5.0 yards per carry, while also catching four passes…Seattle drew just over 10,000 fans to Lumen Field. It was a record cold evening for the city, which likely played a part in the small amount of attendees…Backup QB Steven Montez did not see the field in game two after playing a series in game one…Seattle rotated in their backup offensive linemen at times during the game…
Inactives against DC were WR Jaylon Redd, QB Harrison Frost, DB Mykael Wright, DB Shabari Davis, DL Sama Paama, and G Josh Seltzner. Against St. Louis, it was Frost, Wright, Davis, G Paul Grattan, WR Kelvin McKnight, and DL Treyvon Hester…Paama got publicity on the Player 54: Chasing the XFL Dream show. He attended the Hawaii Showcase with two years of college eligibility remaining, foregoing that eligibility by attending the Showcase. Paama made one assisted tackle against St. Louis.
St. Louis Battlehawks
The cardiac Battlehawks came from behind again, this time to beat the Sea Dragons, improving to 2-0 on the season…Kicker Donny Hageman hit the game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired. He was 2-4 on kicks in the game after going 1-2 against San Antonio…Before the game, the Battlehawks re-signed S Jon Alexander and placed CB Tim Harris on injured reserve. Alexander voiced his displeasure on Twitter when he was released at the end of training camp…
With starting RB Brian Hill inactive due to injury, Kareem Walker and Mataeo Durant picked up the slack. Durant ran 13 times for 34 yards, while Walker had 27 yards on seven carries. QB AJ McCarron was the leading rusher with 41 yards…Game one inactives for St. Louis were QB Manny Wilkins, DL Tim Harris, WR Steven Mitchell, Jr., OL Christian Olmstead, OL Daishawn Dixon, and DL Damion Daniels. On Thursday, inactives were Wilkins, Hill, LB Travis Feeney, Olmstead, Dixon, and TE Jordan Thomas…
Bud Select was named the official beer of the St. Louis Battlehawks on Friday…The Battlehawks are the last team to get a home game, having to wait until week four to play host. Anticipation is building such that the team opened the 300 section at the Dome at America’s Center for season ticket memberships on Friday…Local ratings were a winner on Sunday despite going head-to-head with the Daytona 500; the Battlehawks outdrew the race in the local market, 111,000 viewers to 69,000 viewers…The St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper has been covering the team on its website.
Geronimo Allison, Vegas-Vipers.
Vegas Vipers
Head Coach Rod Woodson was the first to use the coach’s challenge this season, which allows coaches to challenge any play on the field once per game. He chose to use it on what he felt was offsides on a punt. However, there was no clear angle to lead VP of Officiating Dean Blandino to overturn, causing the non-call on the field to stand…LB Vic Beasley is dealing with a concussion, leaving him questionable for the team’s Saturday game against the Defenders…
The Vipers made significant changes to their depth chart ahead of week two. Sean Price repalced Brandon Dillon as the starter at TE. Kahlil McKenzie, initially listed as backup LG, has moved over to starting center ahead of Dohnovan West. Michael Miller is now in at LG instead of Larry Williams. Williams is now the starting LT as Clayton Bradley, the starting LT, was released before week one. Keep in mind, this is an unofficial depth chart…The team’s week one inactives were QB Jalan McClendon, RB Brian Burt, DB Stephen Roberts, OL Antonio Garcia, OL Jovann Letuli, and DT Destiny Vaeao. Vaeao is listed as a starter at DT when he’s healthy (he’s listed as probable on the injury report this week)…
The XFL’s history is tied into WWE, but AEW ring announcer Justin Roberts will be the guest announcer for the game at Cashman Field this weekend…The Vipers have gotten some local press in the Las Vegas Review Journal, including a story on Friday previewing the upcoming game. Woodson was committed to Luis Perez to start the game at QB, but said that “he’s still being evaluated just like everybody is.” Veteran Brett Hundley, expected to become starter when he was signed, is waiting as the backup.
