Two Signings for St. Louis Battlehawks Include All-XFL Tackle

Originally posted on FanNation UFL | By Anthony Miller | Last updated 2/16/24

On Thursday, St. Louis Battlehawks fans were still waiting for the AJ McCarron news to drop, but that didn't stopped the team from moving forward with the rest of the roster. The UFL announced the team had signed offensive tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith and defensive tackle McKinley Williams.

Jones-Smith returns to St. Louis after starting eight games last season en route to a spot on the All-XFL team. The Battlehawks first drafted him in the XFL Draft in 2022.

He initially left the team after last year when the Washington Commanders signed him at the end of the XFL season, and he remained on their practice squad all year.

The United Football League has agreed to terms with the following players: pic.twitter.com/4Kw7f2tPGB
— UFL Communications Department (@UFL_PR) February 16, 2024

Prior to joining the XFL, Jones-Smith played for five different NFL teams from 2018 through 2021. He was also a member of the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football in 2019.

Williams is a former CFL player who spent last year on the practice roster of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The previous season, Williams appeared in one game, making one tackle. That same year, he also spent time on the Indianapolis Colts roster as an undrafted free agent before being released in training camp.

During his six seasons with the Syracuse Orange, Williams made 122 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, four sacks and one fumble recovery in 61 games.

Bringing in Jones-Smith is a critical move for St. Louis as they get a key piece to the offensive line back. The Battlehawks offense continues to climb up in the rankings as one of the best in the UFL.

Teams will be reporting to training camp on Feb. 23, and the Battlehawks open their season against the Michigan Panthers on March 30.

This article first appeared on FanNation UFL and was syndicated with permission.

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