Former Ohio State QB Cardale Jones joins Massachusetts Pirates in Indoor Football League

Cardale Jones is returning to the football field.

The former Ohio State quarterback signed with the Massachusetts Pirates in the Indoor Football League for the 2023 season Thursday.

Jones was most recently signed by the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League in May before being released two weeks later.

Jones helped lead Ohio State to its most recent national championship in 2014, replacing Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett, who were both sidelined with injuries, and helping the Buckeyes to wins against Alabama and Oregon in the first College Football Playoff.

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Jones is also a co-founder of The Foundation with Brian Schottenstein to help Ohio State football and basketball players with name, image and likeness deals.

In three seasons with the Buckeyes from 2013-15, Jones finished with 19 total touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing 61.7% of his passes for 2.322 yards.

Jones was drafted in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills in 2016, but only appeared in one NFL game: completing six of 11 pass attempts for 96 yards with an interception and a sack against the New York Jets. He also had stints on the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad and the Seattle Seahawks.

Most recently, Jones played in five games for the D.C. Defenders in the XFL, completing 54% of his pass attempts for 674 yards and four touchdowns.

The Pirates will open the 2023 season against the Green Bay Blizzard in Worcester, Massachusetts March 26.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former OSU QB Cardale Jones signs with Massachusetts Pirates