Former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones signs with CFL team, replaces JT Barrett

When one Ohio State quarterback goes down, why not sign a new one? The CFL’s Edmonton Elks have signed former Buckeye star quarterback Cardale Jones following a season-ending injury sustained by fellow former Buckeye quarterback JT Barrett in March.

The Elks have put Barrett on the retired list, and immediately signed Jones following the move. After a medical assessment, it was deemed Barrett would be unavailable for the entire 2022 season

Back in 2014, Barrett and Jones were in the same quarterback room together in Columbus under Urban Meyer. During Ohio State’s season finale with Michigan, Barrett was carted off the field with an injury, and Jones came in and immediately rushed for a lengthy score. The next three games would be three that Buckeye fans will never forget.

A 59-0 beatdown of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game followed by a semifinal win over Alabama and then winning the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship, immortalizing Jones in the eyes of Buckeyes fans forever. Barrett, a Heisman candidate, would go on to finish his college career with 2,323 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions after being named starting quarterback the following season.

While history may repeat itself again, it’s been nearly a decade since their time togethr at Ohio State, and Jones hasn’t played organized professional football since 2020 with a brief stint with the XFL’s DC Defenders. In five games, he threw for 674 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Jones was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth-round (139 overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. As a member of the Bills, Jones played in the final game of the 2016 season, the only NFL appearance of his career, replacing EJ Manuel and completing six of his 11 passes for 96 yards and one interception.

Following his rookie campaign, Jones traded to the Los Angeles Chargers, where he would stay until his release prior to the 2019-20 NFL season. While he has been away from the game for a while, Jones has said his dream is to still play professional football, and he is finally getting another chance.

Jones will take over for Barrett on a squad that went a poor 3-11 last season after participating in Ohio State’s Pro Day, where he helped throw to Buckeye draft prospects Chris Booker and Master Teague, among others.