Photo by Click Thompson/UFL/Getty Images Manny Wilkins ran for two touchdowns against the Arlington Renegades on Saturday. With former national championship-winning quarterback A.J. McCarron out of the lineup for the past two weeks, the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL have started former Green Bay Packers quarterback Manny Wilkins under center as of late. In his first start since his 2018 senior season with the Arizona State Sun Devils, Wilkins led the Battlehawks to a win over the DC Defenders — which featured Wilkins running for 82 yards. On Saturday, he continued that running game success when he recorded another 51 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against the Arlington Renegades. Unfortunately, the Battlehawks couldn’t leave that game with a victory, as the Renegades scored 36 points. Below are a couple of the key plays that Wilkins made during the game, though. MANNY MAGICManny Wilkins Jr. pulls the disappearing act for the @XFLBattlehawks
pic.twitter.com/3gzCjUadZu— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 25, 2024 On a key third and five, with the Battlehawks trailing nine points with about four minutes left in the game, Wilkins eluded most of the Renegades’ pass-rush as he scrambled for a first-down conversion that kept St. Louis’ slim hopes for a win alive. Manny Wilkins Jr. walks it in for the leadWhat a start to the second half for the @XFLBattlehawks
pic.twitter.com/trI8sv70s7— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 25, 2024 THERE IT IS!On 4th & Goal the @XFLBattlehawks push it in for the TD pic.twitter.com/vmHAjbXzFR— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 25, 2024 With the help of Wilkins’ two rushing touchdowns, one of which came with seconds left on the clock on a fourth and goal rep at the end of the first half, the Battlehawks were able to hold a short lead in the second half of the game. While Wilkins has been successful on the ground, though, throwing the ball has been a bit of a struggle for the former Packer. For perspective, McCarron — who is currently dealing with an injury — was considered a UFL MVP candidate before he exited the lineup. On the season, Wilkins has thrown 50 passes for 27 completions — a 54 percent completion percentage that is more than 10 percent lower than McCarron’s 2024 mark. Wilkins has also only thrown for one touchdown compared to three interceptions, which all came against the Renegades. Unfortunately, one of those picks was also a pick-six that could have swung the result of the game. His season-long passer rating is 54.3, about half of McCarron’s 98.9 number. The Battlehawks have already clinched a spot in the XFL Conference Championship Game, where St. Louis will face off against the San Antonio Brahmas. There is one week left in the UFL regular season, beyond this weekend, but with all four of the teams in the championship game clinched, don’t expect starters to be in regular season games for very long. The Battlehawks have yet to announce if McCarron’s injury will lead to him returning in Week 10 of the UFL regular season or for the UFL playoffs, so there’s still a chance that Wilkins can put up more tape before the season is over. If he does get more snaps, enjoy Wilkins’ play-making — but don’t expect much of him as a pocket passer.
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