The United Football League is back for its second season since the merge between the XFL and USFL. On Friday night, the St. Louis Battlehawks beat the Houston Roughnecks 31-6 in the regular season opener at the Space City Financial Stadium, in Houston.
Two former Green Bay Packers players shined for the Battlehawks in the game, giving an indication that they might deserve another shot in the NFL.
A quarterback you might not even remember
Manny Wilkins spent a full season with the Packers as a rookie in 2019. Initially signed to the 90-man roster, he played in preseason games but didn’t make the regular season team, spending the year on the practice squad. Wilkins was let go in April, 2020, after the team drafted Jordan Love.
Wilkins stayed away from football for some years and first signed with the Battlehawks in 2023. Last season, he appeared in two games without nearly as much success, but he mostly served as a backup to AJ McCarron.
It looks like things have changed now. A starter for St. Louis in 2025, he had an impressive debut. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 189 yards, a 102.3 passer rating, and also had two rushing touchdowns.
Former Packers QB Manny Wilkins had a really impressive debut for the Battlehawks in this UFL season. pic.twitter.com/25wLkSQjak
— Wendell Ferreira (@wendellfp) March 29, 2025
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A young running back looking for chances
Jarveon Howard spent most of last year’s training camp with the Packers. He had eight runs for 44 yards against the Cleveland Browns in the preseason opener, averaging 5.5 yards per attempt. He’s a good fit for Matt LaFleur’s scheme because of his ability to identify and attack holes after moving horizontally. However, an injury precluded him from fighting for a practice squad spot, and he was waived in late August.
Now, the 25-year-old back started the Battlehawks game as a backup to Jacob Saylors, but impressed in his playing time. He had a 74-yard touchdown run, breaking UFL’s regular season record, and finished the game with 115 rushing yards in 13 runs, an 8.8 average per attempt.
The UFL is an excellent tool for players to rebuild value and return to the NFL. The Packers themselves have given new opportunities for several players after they showed something in the minor league—punter Daniel Whelan, for example, established himself as a valuable piece of the roster after a season in the XFL for the DC Defenders. Maybe, Wilkins and Howard show enough throughout the season to play in the big league once again.