Cleveland Browns: XFL prospects from week 5 of the league

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 08: Anthony Johnson #97 of the DC Defenders celebrates with A.J. Tarpley #59 after a play against the St. Louis Battlehawks during the first half of the XFL game at Audi Field on March 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

BattleHawks vs. Defenders

The D.C. Defenders got the win, 15-6 over the St. Louis BattleHawks, after some bad play from both teams starting quarterbacks. Cardale Jones is looking like a player done in the league. The Defenders released Matt Elam about a week ago, so it’s not unwarranted to wonder if the team would cut Jones as well? Jones has fallen off since his hot start in the first two games of the season but since then he’s been turning the ball over worse than Landry Jones. This game was primed for the BattleHawks to roll, but the Defenders are a great defensive team and gave star quarterback Jordan Ta’amu fits all game.

STL – WR L’Damian Washington

Despite Ta’amu having a bad game, L’Damian Washington had a stellar 114 yards on five receptions, putting some life in the stagnant BattleHawks offense.

STL – LB Terence Garvin

Terence Gavin wasn’t going to let his team go down easy and had 16 combined tackles with one for a loss. The team may have lost, but it wasn’t because of the defense. Garvin had only 20 tackles all year prior to Week Five.

DC – RB Jhurrell Pressley

The Defenders need a new face with Jones now on the bench, and that may be Jhurrell Pressley, who had 107 yards rushing in an impressive performance that saw him average 7.1 yards a carry.

Notes: MVP front runner Ta’amu took a step back against a vaunted Defenders defense, that rebounded nicely from cutting Matt Elam earlier in the week. Once MVP candidate Cardale Jones was benched early in the game, after throwing an interception in just his second passing attempt.

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