Tag: Alex McGough

Packers return QB-turned-WR to practice squad

The Packers brought back Alex McGough, who transitioned from QB to WR this offseason, on the team’s practice squad on Wednesday.

The Green Bay Packers returned quarterback-turned-receiver Alex McGough to the team’s practice squad on Wednesday.

McGough, a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2018, transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver while in Green Bay this past offseason. While attempting to win a roster spot, McGough suffered several lower-body injuries and was eventually released with an injury designation before the start of training camp in July.

Healthy again, McGough will get a chance to continue developing as a receiver for the Packers. He was at practice on Wednesday wearing a No. 16 uniform.

“It’s great to have him back here,” coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday. “He’s a great teammate. The guys really enjoy his presence. He seems healthy, and he’s ready to roll. We’ll get him back to work and see where he’s at.”

In May, LaFleur said McGough impressed the Packers as a receiver while running with the scout team on the practice squad last year.

“He’s a really athletic guy,” LaFleur said after a minicamp practice. “He spent a lot of time on the scout team running receiver routes, and he did such a great job. We feel like he’s such a talented athlete, why not give him a chance there? He’s a smart guy, works his tail off. I think he can contribute on (special teams) as well. We felt like that might be his best chance here.”

McGough spent the entire 2023 season as the team’s No. 3 quarterback on the practice squad. With draft picks Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt on the roster at quarterback during the summer, McGough’s chances of sticking in Green Bay reduced drastically, helping prompt the position change.

McGough is a two-time USFL champion and the 2023 USFL MVP as a quarterback. He previously spent time with the Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans before playing two seasons with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL.

McGough joins Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson and Malik Knowles as the four receivers on the team’s practice squad.

McGough turned 29 years on Tuesday.

Matt LaFleur explains position change for former QB Alex McGough

The Packers got a look at Alex McGough at WR on scout team last year.

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said the team thinks moving Alex McGough from quarterback to wide receiver will give the former USFL MVP a better chance to stick on the roster, considering McGough’s overall athleticism and the work he did on the scout team last year.

“He’s a really athletic guy,” LaFleur said after Friday’s rookie minicamp. “He spent a lot of time on the scout team running receiver routes, and he did such a great job. We feel like he’s such a talented athlete, why not give him a chance there? He’s a smart guy, works his tail off. I think he can contribute on (special teams) as well. We felt like that might be his best chance here.”

McGough spent the entire 2023 season as the No. 3 quarterback on the Packers practice squad after winning back-to-back USFL titles.

But change is never ending in the NFL, and now McGough’s spot on the roster is in big danger.

The Packers selected quarterback Michael Pratt in the seventh round of the 2024 draft, giving the roster three quarterbacks that were acquired via the draft: Pratt, Jordan Love and Sean Clifford.

With the quarterback position well-stocked and stabilized, McGough’s best chance of making the team — whether it’s on the 53-man roster or practice squad — is almost certainly at a new position.

LaFleur said McGough also played some tight end and other positions on the scout team in 2023.

“He did everything last year,” LaFleur said. “He’s a great team guy.”

In terms of athleticism, McGough tested out as a good athlete at quarterback but an underwhelming one at receiver. During his pro day before the 2018 draft, McGough ran the 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds, hit 32.5″ in the vertical leap and finished the three-cone drill in 7.27 seconds. He’s listed at 6-3 and 214 pounds.

It’s unclear if the Packers will go into training camp with only the three quarterbacks or if an addition is required. The team has former fourth-round pick Jacob Eason in Green Bay on a tryout basis during rookie minicamp.

Following draft, Packers backup QB Alex McGough making position change to WR?

Is Packers backup QB Alex McGough making a position change to wide receiver? The Packers roster currently lists him as a receiver.

The Green Bay Packers drafted quarterback Michael Pratt in the seventh round and didn’t select a receiver during the draft or sign one post-draft. Neither was surprising; Brian Gutekunst said he wanted to get back to drafting quarterbacks every year, and the Packers are as well stocked at receiver as any team in football.

So, how’s this for a post-draft curveball: Backup quarterback Alex McGough, a USFL MVP who spent all of last season on the practice squad as the No. 3 quarterback, is now listed as a wide receiver on the team’s official depth chart as of Wednesday night.

McGough has no known wide receiver experience. The 28-year-old is listed at 6-3 and 214 pounds. At his pro day before the 2018 draft, McGough ran the 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds, hit 32.5″ in the vertical and ran the three-cone drill in 7.27 seconds — all good marks for a quarterback but well below average for a receiver.

This could be nothing more than a radical offseason experiment for a player who no longer has a legitimate path to the 53-man roster or even the practice squad. The Packers went with Sean Clifford as Jordan Love’s backup in 2023, and Pratt — despite being a seventh-rounder — is coming to Green Bay with a legitimate chance to compete with Clifford for the job. At the very least, Pratt must be considered the new developmental quarterback for Matt LaFleur and Tom Clements.

Last preseason, McGough completed four of five attempts for 69 yards in two appearances. He was the 2023 USFL MVP after leading the league in touchdown passes and guiding the Birmingham Stallions to back-to-back titles.

Packers sign QB Alex McGough to practice squad

The Packers are bringing back QB Alex McGough on the practice squad.

Alex McGough will return to the Green Bay Packers as the No. 3 quarterback on the practice squad, per Aaron Wilson.

McGough, who signed with the Packers in July, played in two preseason games. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 69 yards, including a 52-yard completion to Jadakis Bonds on the Packers’ game-winning touchdown drive during the preseason finale.

Per PFF, McGough took one sack, had one big-time throw (52-yarder) and one turnover worthy play over seven dropbacks during the preseason.

McGough, a seventh-round pick of the Seahawks in 2018, was the USFL’s MVP during the 2023 season. At 27 years old, McGough is the oldest quarterback on the roster. He previously spent time with the Seahawks, Jaguars and Texans, including stints on the practice squad.

The Packers kept starter Jordan Love and rookie backup Sean Clifford on the 53-man roster.

Alex McGough joins Packers’ 3-player backup QB competition behind Jordan Love

It’ll be Danny Etling vs. Sean Clifford vs. Alex McGough competing to be the top backup behind Jordan Love at Packers training camp.

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The backup quarterback competition behind Jordan Love will be a three-player race entering Green Bay Packers training camp: rookie fifth-round pick Sean Clifford, 2018 seventh-round pick Danny Etling and now USFL MVP Alex McGough, who was signed on Wednesday.

Interestingly enough, Etling and McGough were back-to-back picks in the 2018 draft: Etling went No. 219 to the New England Patriots, while McGough came off the board to the Seattle Seahawks one pick later at No. 220. Now, the two will compete in Green Bay with Clifford, 149th overall pick in the 2022 draft, to be the top backup behind Love.

Like Etling and Clifford, McGough has never appeared in a regular-season NFL game. He spent time with the Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans before eventually starring in the USFL, where he put his name back on the NFL radar with a ridicously good 2023 season. He created 25 touchdowns (league-high 20 passing) over 10 regular season games and then powered the Birmingham Stallions to the USFL title with nine total touchdowns in two playoff games.

McGough has plenty of experience in the NFL training camp setting. He spent camp in 2018 with the Seahawks, camp in 2019 with the Jaguars, camp in 2020 with the Texans and camp in 2021 back with the Seahawks.

Maybe McGough, who is now 27 years old, is ready to take off after revitalizing his football career in the USFL over the last two seasons. The Packers will give him a chance to prove he’s NFL ready this summer.

Green Bay is a good spot in terms of opportunity at quarterback. Clifford played in 51 games over five seasons at Penn State, but he’s a rookie learning a brand new offense. Etling spent one week in Green Bay during the 2021 season and then returned in 2022, when he spent all of training camp in Green Bay and all of the regular season on the Packers practice squad.

A question for Matt LaFleur: How will the Packers split training camp and preseason reps with two young, inexperienced quarterbacks? Three can be difficult enough, even with a veteran starter. Now, the Packers must get Love enough reps while also attempting to both develop three other young passers and identify a capable backup.

Even with four quarterbacks on the roster, the Packers will have three backup quarterback options with exactly zero games of regular season experience behind an expected starter with 83 regular-season passing attempts and one start. It’s nothing if not an interesting depth chart construction of the game’s most important position. If none of the three are up to the challenge, the Packers will have to pick through a shallow group of available veteran quarterbacks before Week 1.

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Watch: Highlights of new Packers QB Alex McGough

Highlights of new Packers QB Alex McGough, who was the USFL’s MVP in 2023.

The Green Bay Packers have a new quarterback with training camp nearing: the team signed USFL MVP Alex McGough on Wednesday.

McGough, an All-USFL pick in 2023, is returning to the NFL after two successful seasons with the Birmingham Stallions, the back-to-back USFL champs.

Over the last two seasons in Birmingham, McGough threw 32 touchdown passes and rushed for nine touchdowns. He led the league in touchdown passes and total touchdowns during a standout 2023 season.

Before going to the USFL, McGough was a four-year starter at Florida International and a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks (2018). He spent time at the NFL level with Seattle, the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars but never attempted a regular-season pass. Now, he’ll attempt to become a backup option for the Packers behind Jordan Love.

Below are some highlights of the new Packers quarterback. McGough appears to be a mobile quarterback capable of extending plays, making plays with his legs and attacking down the field. Does the skill set translate to the NFL? The Packers are about to find out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXzIwB9R26Ihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3knJcSbiIU

Packers release OL DJ Scaife, officially announce signing of QB Alex McGough

The Packers released rookie OL DJ Scaife, who was claimed off waivers in May, to make room for QB Alex McGough, who was signed Wednesday.

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The Green Bay Packers released rookie offensive lineman DJ Scaife to make room on the 90-man roster for quarterback Alex McGough, who was officially announed as a new signing after a successful tryout with the team on Tuesday.

Scaife, a rookie from Miami, was originally claimed off waivers from the Dolphins in May.

McGough, a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2018, was the USFL’s MVP for the 2023 season. Over 10 regular season games and two postseason games for the champion Birmingham Stallions, McGough produced 3,209 total yards and 34 total touchdowns, including 28 touchdown passes.

In the USFL title game, McGough threw for 243 yards and four touchdown passes while rushing for 64 yards. He threw four touchdown passes in each playoff game after leading the league with 20 touchdown passes during the regular season.

McGough was a four-year starter at FIU. He previously spent time with the Seahawks and Houston Texans, including five weeks on the 53-man roster with the Texans in 2019. He has not appeared in a regular season game.

Adding McGough to the 90-man roster gives the Packers four quarterbacks: Jordan Love, the starter, plus rookie Sean Clifford, veteran Danny Etling and now McGough.

Packers to sign USFL MVP QB Alex McGough

The Packers are signing QB Alex McGough of the Birmingham Stallions and the USFL’s MVP in 2023.

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The Green Bay Packers will give the USFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2023 a chance to compete for a backup job behind starting quarterback Jordan Love.

According to Bill Huber of SI, the Packers are signing quarterback Alex McGough, the leader of the USFL champions and the league’s MVP in 2023.

McGough completed 180 of 267 passes (67.4 percent) for 2,105 yards (7.9 yards per attempt), 20 touchdowns and five interceptions over 10 regular season games. He also rushed for 403 yards and five more scores. Over two postseason games, McGough threw eight more touchdown passes and rushed for one touchdown as the Birmingham Stallions won the USFL title.

In Green Bay, McGough will compete with fifth-round pick Sean Clifford and Danny settling for the opportunity to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Love. He was in demand around the NFL after his terrific season in the USFL, but the quarterback depth chart in Green Bay should give McGough a terrific chance to stick on the roster or practice squad.

McGough was a four-year starting quarterback at FIU between 2014 and 2017 and a seventh-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2018. He spent time with Seattle and the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans at the NFL level.

Packers working out QB Alex McGough, the MVP of USFL in 2023

The Packers are hosting a workout on Tuesday for USFL MVP quarterback Alex McGough.

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The Green Bay Packers are hosting a workout on Tuesday for quarterback Alex McGough, who was the MVP of the USFL’s 2023 season.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC-2 in Houston was first to report the news. Bill Huber of Packers Central confirmed the report.

The Packers are attempting to find the right mix of backup options behind starter Jordan Love. The current quarterbacks on the roster are Love, fifth-round pick Sean Clifford and Danny Etling. Neither Clifford nor Etling have NFL regular-season experience.

McGough, an All-USFL pick, created 25 touchdowns and led the Birmingham Stallions to an 8-2 record and a USFL title during the 2023 season. He captained the No. 1 offense in the league, threw a league-high 20 touchdown passes, produced over 2,500 total yards and led the league in passer rating.

One of his favorite targets was former Packers tight end Jace Sternberger.

McGough played four seasons at FIU. He was a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2018 draft and later spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.

Wilson reports over a third of the NFL has some level of interest in McGough after his standout season in the USFL.

Stallions blast Breakers to gain USFL championship game

Birmingham crushed New Orleans to win the USFL South Division crown

The USFL championship game will feature the best offense in the league, the Birmingham Stallions, against the team with the best defense, the Pittsburgh Maulers.

The Stallions made an emphatic statement as they won the South Division on Sunday, crushing the New Orleans Breakers, 47-22.

The Stallions are looking to defend their championship and bring a 9-2 overall record into the contest, which will be on Saturday and televised by NBC.

The Maulers, meanwhile, are 5-6 and have only put things together during this recent surge.

The teams played in the regular season and Birmingham won, 24-20.

Against New Orleans, Stallions QB Alex McGough was magnificent.

He accounted for 394 total yards and 5 touchdowns as Birmingham surged to a 40-7 lead after three quarters.