ST. LOUIS—Battlehawks will be without starting quarterback Manny Wilkins the rest of the way as the team fights to make playoffs after dropping their last two games. Wilkins is done for the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
Just really sick for him,” said Anthony Becht, St. Louis Battlehawks head coach. “Praying for him to have a quick recovery, a healthy comeback for him mentally and physically and we’re going to be there all the way to support him throughout.”
Battlehawks are not the only ones looking out for Wilkins.
“Aaron Rodgers spoke to him, his former teammate with the Green Bay Packers who clearly went through a very traumatic injury with his Achilles and offered him some insight on things for him to do,” Becht said.
Wilkins was a practice squad quarterback for the Packers in 2019. Becht said Rodgers reaching out to him is a testament to Wilkins being likeable and to Rodgers as a teammate.
However, with Wilkins nearing his 30th birthday this November, Becht admits it’s hard for anyone to come back from an Achilles injury.
Though no player wishes to see a teammate injured, the door is now wide open for former TCU Horned Frog quarterback Max Duggan to lead St. Louis and showcase his talent for the NFL.
Becht was proud of Duggan on his gameplay after Wilkins went down despite not having practice reps.
“Max initially came in and kind of held the fort down. As we got into the game, I just felt like that’s where you saw he doesn’t get reps,” Becht said.
He added due to the league trying to temper down the reps for starters, the backup quarterback doesn’t get any reps.
“I’m 100% confident that Max will play better and do a lot more things with a full week of practice and preparation. So I really didn’t lose any sleep over that,” Becht said.
Winning the first two games may seem a long time ago to fans after these last two games, but Becht isn’t worried.
“The best thing about it is we get to come home this week and next week and get back on track. Our team is excited. They’re ready to come back to St. Louis and play. It’s a critical game for us, but we’re 2-2 man, the sky is not falling, we’re one game out of first place,” Becht said.
Battlehawks face the Michigan Panthers on Saturday.
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