They say that sometimes, you’re only as good as your backup quarterback. When one of them is also close friends with the starter off the field, it can only enhance their work relationship.

Such is the perspective of St. Louis Battlehawks offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski, whose quarterback room has featured St. Paul’s alum AJ McCarron as the starter and Manny Wilkins from California as the backup the last two seasons of professional spring football.

But when Gulf Shores alum Brandon Silvers was added into the mix for this United Football League season, Gradkowski said the quarterbacks’ meetings have gained another element of entertainment.

“Every QB room I've been a part of, they've all been good teammates,” said Gradkowski, an eight-year NFL veteran, during media availability on Tuesday. “You're helping each other out because you understand and know how hard it is when you are the guy in there. So having Brandon around has been a huge help because him and AJ go way back. They're good buddies so the communication there is clear.”

Local quarterbacks return home

The relationship between Silvers and McCarron goes all the way back to their days as top high school prospects in Lower Alabama before they played their collegiate careers in-state. That led them to last Saturday, where they suited up for their first professional contest in their home state and had plenty of familiar faces among the crowd of 14,056 that broke the Birmingham Stallions’ attendance record since its return to professional spring football in 2022.

On the field, Silvers did acknowledge there are times to speak up and say something about a play that happened and other times to let the starter take care of it on his own.

“You’ve just got to feel when you tell him some stuff or back away because I've been in those shoes in my time in these leagues,” Silvers said after Saturday’s game against the Stallions. “It's just kind of feeling out the whole process and when to go over there and tell him this and that but it's been fun, I'm just here to help.”

Helps to have guys who have been there

That prior experience, including Silvers’ time as a starter in the XFL and Wilkins’ career at Arizona State, is another invaluable addition to the room.

“It helps that I have guys that have been around the block, that are veterans and understand football and playing quarterback; but more importantly they're good teammates. And that's what I love from the quarterback position,” Gradkowski said. “Manny and Brandon are just good dudes, the teammates love them so if they do get the opportunity, you're always excited for him. I was a backup my whole career, I had my opportunities here and there so I know what that's like, you always support the starter as much as you can.”

That support may never be as important as it is now with McCarron listed as day-to-day following Saturday’s Week 7 contest in Birmingham. McCarron was unavailable to the media postgame due to further evaluation on a left ankle injury. St. Louis is set to take on the D.C. Defenders in the nation’s capital on Sunday at noon.

Don’t need to get ready if you stay ready

Gradkowski said his approach to practice this week was to get all three quarterbacks prepared to start the game so the Battlehawks would be prepared for anything. St. Louis — which is tied with the San Antonio Brahmas atop the XFL Conference with 5-2 records — has three games remaining, all against divisional opponents.

Still, thanks to the cohesion and understanding in the quarterback room, Gradkowski didn’t see the Battlehawks missing a beat because of who is under center.

“I also have to prepare all three of them to be ready to go, just in case,” Gradkowski said. “AJ has been around it, he's in it so he's the most familiar so now the other guys get him up to speed and just keep this thing rolling. I don't think it changes us much."

Not only teammates but roommates, too

While Silvers does get to work closely with his friend McCarron, they also get to spend extra time together away from the facility as roommates. All UFL teams practice in the league’s hub city of Dallas, Texas during the week before traveling for games.

“He’s one of my good buddies off the field so it’s good to be out here helping him and helping this team as well,” Silvers said. “He loves (being roommates), he loves seeing me every day. We don't get to go golfing as much but he enjoys it for sure. That is one main thing, he loves hanging out with me. It's not me hanging out with him, it's him hanging out with me.”

As for their time in the facility, Gradkowski certainly appreciates their dynamic addition to the locker room.

“It's cool to have them, how close they are in that type of relationship because it helps them on the football field as well as making our meetings enjoyable,” Gradkowski said.

Follow @GCMSportsAL on social media for more sights and sounds from the Lower Alabama quarterbacks’ homecoming.