DTR Faces Former Team as Storm Host Stallions in Week Six Rematch
by Ethan Berch
ARLINGTON, TX – April 30, 2026 – Exactly two weeks after trading Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Birmingham, Orlando now gets set to face him in one of Week Six’s most intriguing storylines. The Storm suffered their first loss of the season in Week Five, while the Stallions enter desperate for a spark as they try to stop a four-game slide and revive their season.
This marks a Week Four rematch. Orlando shut out Birmingham 16-0, recording the first UFL shutout since 2024.
Storylines to watch:
Birmingham Stallions
Since Week One, the Stallions have dropped four straight and find themselves in desperation mode. As the second half of the season begins, Birmingham is fighting to keep its season alive.
After the rushing attack was a positive factor early in the year, the Stallions have slipped to seventh in the league through five weeks. They have produced just 71 rushing yards per game, an uncharacteristic number for Birmingham.
Anthony McFarland remains one of the league’s more explosive backs but has been limited over the past several weeks. Still, he sits sixth in the league in rushing yards per game. Alongside Snoop Conner, the Stallions need to get back to their normal standard on the ground.
If the run game gets going, it will open everything for Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
DTR made his first start for Birmingham last week, just five days after being traded from Orlando. Against a dominant DC defense, he threw for 313 yards and rushed for another 43. Despite two interceptions, he totaled three touchdowns and injected new life into the Stallions offense.
Now, DTR gets to face his former team exactly two weeks after being traded.
It is critical that he attacks Orlando’s secondary vertically this week. Orlando is elite against the run, but they have allowed more through the air than on the ground. If DTR can frequently connect with Jaydon Mickens, Deon Cain, and Justyn Ross, Birmingham has a real chance to steal this one. If Orlando crowds the box, the Stallions have to make them pay over the top.
Defensively, one of the keys to snapping the losing streak is creating pressure without having to blitz. Orlando quarterback Jack Plummer has thrown well this season, but disrupting his timing is key.
Izayah Green-May ranks top ten in sacks and tackles for loss this season. Birmingham needs him to have a big night against Plummer and company.
Orlando Storm
After opening 4-0, the Storm hit their first bump in the road last week and now look to bounce back at home.
Fortunately for Orlando, they still have one of the league’s top rushers in Jashaun Corbin. The Storm rank fourth in the UFL in rushing, averaging over 100 yards per game on the ground.
While Birmingham’s run defense has been middle of the pack, Orlando hopes for a repeat of Week Four when it rushed for 123 yards and controlled the game.
Corbin should help keep Birmingham’s defense honest and set up Plummer in play-action.
In the first matchup, Plummer delivered a steady performance with 182 passing yards and a touchdown. He continues to do whatever it takes to win and ranks second in the league in passing yards this season.
Going against Birmingham’s talented receiver room, it is pivotal that Orlando’s own playmakers respond. Elijhah Badger and Chris Rowland both rank top ten in receiving yards this season. Rowland, one of the league’s best after the catch, is second in receptions with 27.
The Stallions defense has given up chunk plays this season, and Orlando will look to exploit that again with speed on the perimeter.
After shutting out Birmingham in Week Four, expectations are this rematch will look much different. DTR has brought newfound energy to Birmingham and will be hunting his first win as a starter.
Orlando will also look to keep winning the takeaway battle. They remain one of the league leaders in turnover margin, while Keshawn Banks and Chris Garrett continue creating havoc up front.
X-Factor:
No player changes this matchup more than DTR. If he protects the football and turns broken plays into explosives, Birmingham has the quarterback edge needed to flip the result from Week Four.