Packers release Alex McGough and sign two wide receivers ahead of training camp

The Green Bay Packers have completed their roster right before the start of training camp . On Friday, the Packers announced the signings of wide receivers Rory Starkey and Jalen Wayne. To make room for these moves, the team waived/injured quarterback turned receiver Alex McGough, a former USFL MVP. Now, the team has 91 players — they have an extra roster spot because of Kenneth Odumegwu, who has a roster exemption as part of the International Pathway Program .

Starkey is a rookie out of Samford who participated in the team's rookie minicamp back in May.

Wayne hasn't played regular season games yet, so he is still a first-year player, but not a rookie. The former South Alabama receiver signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and he also spent some time with the Cleveland Browns. Earlier this year, he had a CFL experience with the Montreal Alouettes.

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On Friday, the Packers also worked out quarterback Jake Fromm , but he did not get signed.

Moving on

The big surprise of the move was the decision to move on from Alex McGough . He injured his hamstring in the offseason, and if he clears waivers, he will return to the Packers' injured reserve — usually, in these types of cases, Green Bay later reaches an injury settlement to waive the player.

McGough has played for the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans in the NFL. He spent two seasons in the USFL for the Birmingham Stallions, where he was the league's MVP in 2023. That caught the attention of NFL teams, and he signed with the Packers last offseason.

McGough played last year's preseason for Green Bay and spent the entire season on the practice squad. However, this year he became an afterthought when the team drafted quarterback Michael Pratt in the seventh round.

McGough moved to wide receiver trying to improve his chances of making the roster — or at least the practice squad. Ultimately, the hamstring injury got in the way of his transition.

Related: The Packers are still trying to improve at quarterback