Former Packers quarterback suffers unexpected setback in his attempt to return to the NFL because of something he can't control
A return to minor leagues is always a valuable opportunity for a player trying to get back to the NFL. For Alex McGough, though, the path won't be as clean as hoped. The former Green Bay Packers quarterback suffered a shoulder injury and has been placed on UFL's injured reserve by the Birmingham Stallions.That means […]
A return to minor leagues is always a valuable opportunity for a player trying to get back to the NFL. For Alex McGough, though, the path won't be as clean as hoped. The former Green Bay Packers quarterback suffered a shoulder injury and has been placed on UFL's injured reserve by the Birmingham Stallions.
That means McGough will miss at least the next five games, and former Carolina Panthers third-round pick Matt Corral will start.
"With Alex, he's out with a shoulder (injury). He will not play this week, we're not sure how long it's gonna be," Stallions head coach Skip Holtz said. "This is gonna be a number of weeks. So it's important that Matt (Corral) continues to develop."
On Wednesday, McGough was officially placed on IR. In the UFL, there are two different types of injured reserves. The regular one makes the player miss at least five weeks, but there's a potential for return later in the season. The second one is season-ending, and the player automatically receives an invite to be a part of next year's training camp roster again for the same team.
In his first two games for the Stallions this season, Alex McGough wasn't able to replicate his previous performances in the minor leagues. He completed 10 of 24 passes for 89 yards, a touchdown and an interception, with a 48.8 passer rating.
The Stallions are 1-1 this season after losing to the DC Defenders and beating the Michigan Panthers over the first two weeks, and they are leading the USFL Conference. The regular season is 10 weeks long, and the best teams in each conference (USFL and XFL) advance to the playoffs.
Last season, the first one since the USFL-XFL merger, Birmingham won the UFL title by beating the San Antonio Brahmas 25-0 in the championship game. The franchise had also won the two seasons of the USFL in 2022 and 2023, with McGough on the roster.
Alex McGough was a backup in 2022, but led the team in 2023 as the MVP of the USFL season, which generated him an opportunity to play for the Packers.
In 2023, McGough spent the entire NFL season on the Packers' practice squad. Last year, he transitioned to wide receiver and spent some time on the PS, but wasn't retained in 2025. In the UFL, he returned to his original position.
McGough will be eligible to return starting in Week 8, so he could play the final three games of the UFL regular season, plus the playoffs if he's healthy by that point.
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