After Making Magic, Maybe McGough Won’t Disappear
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Alex McGough was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2018. On Saturday, he rallied the Green Bay Packers past the Seahawks in a preseason game at Lambeau Field.
No, this wasn’t “The Alex McGough Revenge Game.” But a lot has happened over the last five years.
He’s been cut twice by the Seahawks as well as by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. He was supposed to start for the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL in 2022 but suffered an ankle injury. He was supposed to be a backup for the Stallions in 2023 but the starter suffered an injured finger in the opener and McGough wound up winning MVP honors and the league championship.
The Packers signed him just before the start of training camp, automatically meaning an uphill climb at a position in which the quarterback must know everyone’s responsibility. In the fourth quarter against the Bengals in the first preseason game, Emanuel Wilson ran 80 yards for a touchdown on his first snap, he fumbled on his fourth snap and took a knee on his final three plays. He was supposed to play in the fourth quarter against the Patriots, but that game was suspended by a serious injury.
On Saturday, McGough got his chance. With the Packers trailing 15-12 midway through the fourth quarter, he found Jadakis Bonds streaking up the left sideline for a gain of 52 yards. Moments later, he connected with Cody Chrest to convert a third-and-7. Those two plays set up Nate McCrary for the game-winning touchdown.
Alex McGough (Photo by Sarah Kloepping/USA Today Sports)
“I couldn’t have asked for a better finish,” McGough said in the jubilant auxiliary locker room. “I think that I took my lumps [at times] and, when I got my opportunity, I feel like I made the most of it out there. Can’t really beat that, can’t really wish for anything better. I did my job and I did what I had to do to show the coaches what I can do.”
McGough’s magic gave the Packers a 19-15 victory. Did it also save him a job with the Packers?
He almost certainly won’t land a spot on the 53 when the roster is cut on Tuesday. But the Packers will need a quarterback on the practice squad. With knowledge of the offense, familiarity with what the coaches are looking for and a game-winning drive on his resume, McGough might have bought himself an extended stay in Titletown.
“It’s not up to me,” he said. “I control what I can control, and I think my practice actions are what they’re going to go off of. Whatever decision they make is up to them. I’m going to roll with whatever. I’d obviously love to stay here. I love this offense, I love the guys here, and I just think it’d be awesome, but we’ll see what happens.”
While McGough endures an agonizing wait before learning his fate, he at least can bask in the glory of what happened during the sunny final moments on Saturday. McGough finished 4-of-5 passing. On the big play to Bonds, he saw the corner in press coverage and the safety hanging out close to the line of scrimmage. McGough knew he had a one-on-one opportunity, no different than when he hit Bonds for a 91-yard touchdown earlier in the week.
The ball was perfectly thrown. While the Packers’ sideline erupted, McGough was in next-play mode while listening to offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich call in the next play. For McGough, the celebration had to wait until McCrary scored and Benny Sapp clinched the game with an interception.
“It’s unbelievable,” McGough said. “Whenever you can win a game, whatever level you’re at, it’s an accomplishment that you just can’t replicate feelings like that. It was awesome to get the opportunity to go out and prove that, with the circumstances – we’re down in the game, we’ve got to score a touchdown to get ahead – that we went down there and executed. All 11 guys did what they had to do to put it in the end zone.”
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