Injury aside, AJ McCarron has an opportunity to leave lasting legacy in St. Louis

It’s been nine years since St. Louis Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron has played in a playoff game.

The 33-year-old will have the opportunity to play for a spot in the UFL Championship Game when the Battlehawks host the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL Conference Championship Game on Sunday, June 9, in St. Louis.

With the championship game also in St. Louis, there’s a lot of pressure for the Battlehawks to deliver in St. Louis’ first playoff football game in 20 years. But as McCarron said during his weekly press conference this week, pressure makes diamonds and he and the team “got a chance to create a big ass diamond.”

“I want to try to win a championship, and that’s all I’m worried about,” McCarron said. “I’m not promised anything after this, and I signed up for it. I’m not going to bail on my teammates. I think the team needs me, so I’ll play through it and then deal with whatever happens after that point.”

Both teams played each other last week at the end of the regular season with home-field advantage on the line. The Battlehawks won 13-12 in McCarron’s return from an ankle injury but had his least efficient game, completing 10 of 24 passes for 115 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

“Any time you miss two weeks, it’s tough, and you want to get back into a rhythm,” Battlehawks offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski said. “He wanted to play last week. He knows what he needs to do to get ready and be better.”

He was held out of the previous two games after sustaining the injury in Week 7 at Birmingham.

“It’s been a lot, just something I haven’t had to deal with before, and I’ve got to figure out ways to play with it,” he said. “I was just glad to be back. ... I felt great in the first half, then in the second, I didn’t feel great. But I got some treatment this week, and I think that will help me more.”

Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht said after the game that it was a decision why McCarron was held out, saying that even though the ankle injury won’t fully heal in time, he still could’ve played if given the call.

“It’s a constant conversation,” Becht said. “He’s got an ankle injury and it was my decision to hold him back for a couple of weeks. He wanted to play two weeks ago, but this isn’t something that’s going to heal. It is what it is. We’re just trying to manage it.”

As it looked, last week, the only thing that was limiting about McCarron was his mobility. Over the season, McCarron threw for 1,582 yards and 15 touchdowns against four interceptions.

McCarron asked for his release from the Cincinnati Bengals after the 2023 NFL season to sign back with the Battlehawks and be in a position to win a championship.

Should they win on Sunday, he'll not only have that opportunity but will also host it.

"It's what you play the game for," McCarron said.