Former Ole Miss QB Jordan Ta’amu is set to miss the remainder of the 2026 UFL season, the DC Defenders announced on Tuesday. The Defenders are two games away from the 2026 postseason, currently sitting in the second spot, tied with St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL standings.
The former Ole Miss QB suffered an injury during the team’s Week 8 loss to the Louisville Kings. Although the team announced Ta’amu’s season was over, the specifics of the injury were not revealed.
While speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Shannon Harris said:
“We never want to lose a quarterback of that caliber, especially a guy who’s been an MVP-level player and championship leader for us. But we still have a really good football team, and we are going to rally behind Spencer [Sanders] and Jason [Bean].”
Ta’amu played a major role in DC’s rise to dominance this season, putting up 1,515 passing yards, coupled with 196 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns in eight games. However, the 2019 undrafted rookie also contributed to nine interceptions.
The team will now look to Spencer Sanders, who has featured in two games, completing seven passes for 83 yards along with an interception and three sacks, as the primary replacement for Ta’amu. Former Kansas QB Jason Bean will serve as Sanders’ backup.
Jordan Ta’amu’s Journey to the UFL From Ole Miss
A transfer from the JUCO level, Ta’amu entered the Ole Miss rotation as a backup for then-QB Shea Patterson in 2017, playing five games after the former QB’s injury-shortened season.
Ta’amu solidified himself as the starter for the Rebels in 2018, after Patterson sought a transfer to Michigan. Despite a near-4000 passing yard season where he ranked only behind Tua Tagovailoa in SEC QB rankings, Ta’amu could not find a home in the NFL through the 2019 Draft.
After multiple stints on NFL practice squads and other UFL teams, Ta’amu finally settled in with the DC Defenders in 2024 and won the League MVP as well as the UFL championship in 2025, making an immediate impact.
Ta’amu’s injury has certainly raised questions on DC’s bid to win back-to-back UFL championships, with backup QB Spencer Sanders now thrust into the spotlight.
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