Arlington Renegades Add Tony Jones Jr. After Losing Kalen Ballage for the Season
It’s been a turbulent week for the Arlington Renegades. While they were forced to place star running back Kalen Ballage on injured reserve, they’ve moved quickly to sign Tony Jones Jr. as his replacement for the remainder of the UFL season.
News: The Arlington Renegades have signed RB Tony Jones Jr., in wake of Kalen Ballage's absence.
Jones has spent the last few years in the NFL, with 329 rushing yards & 3 TD's to his name.
Really nice add by GM Rick Mueller to bolster this backfield late. #UFL https://t.co/yZDHDqf6xv pic.twitter.com/z75zo9hgit
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) May 8, 2025
Tony Jones Jr. Joins the Renegades
Tony Jones Jr. is an exciting addition for the Renegades, a solid find by GM Rick Mueller. Replacing Ballage won’t be an easy task, but Jones brings valuable experience, having spent time in the NFL.
Jones had a productive college career at Notre Dame, amassing 1,481 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. His senior year was especially impressive, as he rushed for 857 yards.
After going undrafted, Jones was signed by the New Orleans Saints, where he spent three years, rushing for over 150 yards in that span. He was waived by New Orleans in 2022, then claimed by the Seattle Seahawks, only to be released at the end of the season.
Since then, Jones has moved between the Saints, Broncos, and Cardinals. In 2024, he appeared in one game for Arizona, rushing for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Though not the fastest back, Jones has a physical running style, reminiscent of Ballage’s. Once he adjusts to the Renegades’ offense, don’t be surprised if Jones gets significant reps in the backfield.
Kalen Ballage Out for the Season
In unfortunate news, the Renegades have officially lost Kalen Ballage for the remainder of the season. Ballage was injured during last week’s game against St. Louis, suffering a separated shoulder that requires surgery, ending his year.
Ballage had been one of the UFL’s top backs, ranking second in the league for rushing yards through Week 6. He had accumulated 306 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 46 receiving yards before the injury. His breakout moment came in Week 1 with a 77-yard rushing touchdown against San Antonio.
Though he shared the workload with Dae Dae Hunter, Ballage was incredibly productive when on the field, averaging 4.6 yards per carry with four runs of 15+ yards in six games.
At 29 years old, this injury comes at a particularly tough time, as Ballage had been playing his way back into NFL consideration. The required surgery puts his future professional career in doubt.
Houston Roughnecks Re-Sign Cam Sutton
In other UFL news, the Houston Roughnecks have re-signed tight end Cam Sutton. Sutton, who spent time with Houston earlier in the season before being released due to roster numbers, returns after Geor’Quavius Spivey’s injury in Week 6. Sutton brings plenty of spring league experience, having previously played for the Vegas Vipers and Memphis Showboats.
Final Thoughts
The Renegades are in a tough spot midseason, with the loss of Kalen Ballage being a major blow. After dropping two straight games, Arlington now sits at 3-3 in the XFL Conference, holding the third seed. With a strong Panthers team coming to town on Saturday, the Renegades must regroup and refocus if they hope to get back on track.
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