Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
Simply name Bryce Perkins the landing maker.
By three video games, the Michigan Panthers’ dual-threat quarterback is accountable for 5 touchdowns (three speeding and two passing). Perkins has accomplished 69% of his passes for 488 yards and rushed for 74 extra. His capacity to make issues occur within the air and on the bottom is among the principal causes the Panthers are one of many prime groups to beat within the UFL heading into Week 4.
“Bryce’s vitality is basically good,” Michigan head coach Mike Nolan mentioned. “He nonetheless tries to hurdle all people, however he did fall ahead for a pair further yards.”
[MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League]
Perkins subbed in for injured beginning quarterback Danny Etling — he needed to go away the sport after taking a giant hit — early in Michigan’s recreation final week. With Etling (concussion) inactive for this week, Perkins takes over for good as Michigan’s full-time starter. Perkins earned UFL Offensive Participant of the Week honors for his play within the Panthers’ win over the San Antonio Brahmas in Week 3.
Whereas at occasions a bit of reckless, the Panthers (2-1) will proceed to journey Perkins’ relentless vitality as they host the Memphis Showboats (0-3) in Week 4’s opening recreation on Friday night time (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app).
Saturday contains a doubleheader, beginning with the Arlington Renegades (2-1) internet hosting the St. Louis Battlehawks (2-1) at Choctaw Stadium (12:30 p.m. ET) and adopted by the defending champion Birmingham Stallions (2-1) hitting the highway to tackle the Houston Roughnecks (1-2) at TDECU Stadium (7 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app).
Closing out the weekend, the DC Defenders — the league’s lone remaining undefeated crew — host the Brahmas, who’re nonetheless trying to find their first win of the season, at Audi Discipline (5 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app).
Right here’s a better take a look at 5 issues to look at for in Week 4:
1. QB Nolan Henderson takes over the beginning position for Roughnecks
Head coach Curtis Johnson lastly handed over the beginning job to Henderson, the crew’s backup getting into the season, after he led Houston to a comeback win over Memphis final week — the Roughnecks’ first win in a calendar 12 months.
Henderson took over within the second half for starter Anthony Brown, going 10-of-11 for 80 yards and a rating.
“It appeared prefer it (the ball) was popping out on time,” Johnson mentioned about Henderson’s efficiency in Week 3. “We acquired in our fast-paced offense, and I believed he did an excellent job. It’s a credit score to him. It’s arduous being No. 2. Generally we make the incorrect resolution, and typically we’re not incorrect, however this child — he by no means flinched. I by no means heard him down. I by no means heard him say something unfavourable. He was at all times within the workplace, at all times useful.
“He’s an exceptional younger man.”
In three begins, Brown accomplished 19 of 41 passes (46.3%) for 167 yards, one landing and three interceptions. He was sacked thrice and posted a league-low 35.3 quarterback ranking (QBR).
Beginning left deal with Zach Banner can also be anticipated to return this week for Houston after lacking time on account of private causes.
2. DC cross rusher Andre Mintze getting defensive participant of the 12 months buzz
One of many causes the Defenders have the very best document within the league is due to their protection, led by Mintze, who completed with two sacks and two pressured fumbles final week en path to being named UFL Defensive Participant of the Week.
Mintze is tied for the league lead in sacks (3.0), together with two pressured fumbles and two fumble recoveries headed into Week 4. Others who’ve performed properly embrace Roughnecks security Leon O’Neal, who has pick-six, a sack and 14 mixed tackles. Michigan cornerback D.J. Miller leads the league with two interceptions, whereas Memphis linebacker Steele Chambers is tops within the UFL with 27 mixed tackles.
3. Battlehawks face Renegades in recreation of the week
In a battle for second place within the XFL Convention, Arlington and St. Louis will look to get again on observe after each groups suffered losses in Week 3.
For the Battlehawks, meaning getting QB Manny Wilkins again to the way in which he performed earlier this season; he turned the ball over thrice in a house loss to the Defenders final week. St. Louis, the highest speeding crew within the UFL, completed with simply 61 speeding yards towards DC. Issues might be robust on the bottom for St. Louis once more this week, as they face an Arlington protection permitting a league-low 73.3 speeding yards a contest.
For the Renegades, they have to work out how one can get into the tip zone after failing to attain a landing in a loss to the Stallions final week. Arlington’s offense completed 0-for-4 within the purple zone towards Birmingham.
4. QB E.J. Perry stays the Showboats’ starter – for now
Although he threw back-to-back interceptions and was changed by Troy Williams within the second half of Memphis’ loss to Houston final week, Perry will get his fourth begin in a row for the Showboats as they tackle the Panthers.
Memphis has dedicated to enjoying each Perry and Williams this season, with blended outcomes. In three begins, Perry is 28 of 45 (62.2%) for 298 yards, one landing cross and two interceptions.
Williams, who led the Pittsburgh Maulers to the USFL title recreation two years in the past, is 8 for 11 (72.7%) for 104 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. Williams has 35 speeding yards to Perry’s 33. The Showboats common simply 13.7 factors per recreation, the second lowest within the league.
5. Teaching carousel continues as Ken Whisenhunt completely steps away
Two weeks after returning to the sector, the UFL introduced that the Showboats’ head coach was stepping away completely on account of private causes. Offensive line coach Jim Turner will as soon as once more function Memphis’ interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Noel Mazzone, who beforehand labored because the offensive coordinator for the legacy USFL’s New Orleans Breakers when Turner was on that employees, will function the brand new offensive coordinator for Memphis.
“The time has come for me to step away from the sport and take a break from soccer,” Whisenhunt mentioned in a ready assertion. “I’m so grateful for my time with the gamers and need them the very best.”
In different teaching information, the league additionally introduced that Payton Pardee, who was simply elevated from receivers/particular groups coach to offensive coordinator final week, can even function interim head coach for San Antonio whereas Wade Phillips takes a go away of absence on account of private causes.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, protecting the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him at @eric_d_williams.
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