Multiple USFL Players Shine In Final Week Of NFL Preseason
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Multiple USFL Players Shine In Final Week Of NFL Preseason

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The NFL preseason is officially over. As the final seconds ticked down in New Orleans last night, it marked the end of an eventful few weeks for the NFL – and, the 39 USFL athletes who were signed to the league.

Since the preseason began, we’ve seen dozens of USFL players make a legitimate impact for their respective organizations.

In this piece, we’ll be taking a look at several former USFL alumni who made the most of their NFL opportunities during week three of the preseason.

WR Davion Davis | Arizona Cardinals

The former USFL Champion with the Birmingham Stallions has been grinding it out with Arizona. Davion Davis has put up some solid numbers for the Cardinals over the past few weeks.

However, Saturday was something special. Davion finished the game with three receptions for 43 yards – leading the team. In the third quarter, he made a spectacular grab, bringing the Cardinals back within one score.

Davis was one of the top wide receivers in the USFL, consistently producing for Birmingham. While it’s going to be an uphill battle to make the final roster, Davion’s performance on Sunday should at least have turned some heads in the organization.

LB Frank Ginda | Atlanta Falcons

The USFL’s defensive player of the year finally made his way to the NFL just a couple of weeks ago, signing with the Atlanta Falcons. Frank saw limited action in week two, and made the final tackle of the game to end things in a tie against Cincinnati.

NFL preseason week three was an even greater testament to the skill sets that Ginda brings to the table. Despite only playing for about two quarters, Frank led the entire team in tackles, with ten.

In addition, Ginda posted one of the best PFF grades of the week. He graded out at 80.0, the second highest of any Atlanta Falcons player.

For Frank Ginda, this NFL opportunity has been a long time coming. He’s absolutely dominated the spring football scene for quite a few years, with stints in the AAF and XFL. Most recently, he played for the Michigan Panthers – earning USFL DPOY honors in 2023.

If the Falcons decide not to keep Frank on the roster and/or practice squad, one has to expect another NFL team to come calling.

DB Josh Butler | Dallas Cowboys

Josh Butler is another former Michigan Panthers player who has performed at a high level throughout the past couple of weeks.

In Saturday’s game against the Raiders, Butler was excellent. He led the Cowboys with six tackles on the night, including two passes defensed.

Josh Butler wrapped up his 2023 NFL preseason with an overall PFF grade of 68.9. He was consistent, making plays each and every game in the secondary – and the backfield.

After such a strong outing this past weekend, one would hope that Josh Butler made enough of an impression to stick in Dallas. The stats speak for themselves, and Butler saw plenty of quality minutes which is a good sign. He finished the preseason as the fifth leading tackler on the team, with nine.

QB Alex McGough | Green Bay Packers

The USFL’s MVP finally had an opportunity to shine – and shine he did. Alex McGough saw minutes for Green Bay late in the second half, and made the most of them. He dropped a 52 yard dime in the bucket to Jadakis Bonds, which put USFL twitter into a frenzy:

He ultimately led the Green Bay Packers on a game-winning touchdown drive, as they came away with a 19-15 victory over Seattle. McGough finished the game with a solid stat-line: 4/5, 69 yards, 118.8 QBR.

Considering the Packers only have three quarterbacks on the team – it certainly seems like the odds of McGough being on the final roster are quite high.

See also

DE Jordan Ferguson | Seattle Seahawks

Jordan Ferguson has had a wild ride throughout the NFL preseason. He was signed to Seattle and played in week one – but was cut after a poor week two performance.

That all changed this past weekend, when Ferguson was brought back almost immediately. This time, Jordan made the most of his opportunity, posting six tackles and a clutch TFL against Green Bay.

Unfortunately, Jordan was released early this morning by the Seahawks. Despite this, he impressed this preseason, and hopefully will see another opportunity come his way sooner than later.

K Brandon Aubrey | Dallas Cowboys

As the lone kicker on the Dallas Cowboys roster, it seems like Brandon Aubrey is a lock for the regular season. He’s done quite well in preseason, getting more confident with each and every week.

This past game is a prime example of that. After missing from 59 yards out, Aubrey had another shot from the same distance, and absolutely crushed it.

The All-USFL kicker is a two time Champion with the Birmingham Stallions. Due to his excellence in the USFL, Aubrey landed in Dallas, and now is in a position to make his first NFL roster. Against Las Vegas, Aubrey was 1/2 on field goal attempts, and 4/4 on XP’s.

Other Notable Performances

There were quite a few players who showed out in week three, even in limited minutes. These include:

DE Levi Bell (Seahawks): 4 tackles, 1 TFL
WR Deon Cain (Eagles, released): 6 receptions, 62 yards
DE Breeland Speaks (49ers, released): 3 tackles, 1 TFL
DT Khalil Davis (Texans): 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 QB hits
WR D.J. Montgomery (Colts): 3 receptions, 36 yards

Hopefully, we’ll see some of these USFL to NFL signings stick with their organizations. As of right now, 39 USFL players signed with NFL organizations, but several have already been released. You can stay up to date on all of these transactions with our official tracker.

Which USFL players do you think will be able to make the 53 man rosters? Are there candidates with practice squad potential? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!