When an athlete is playing spring football, it is looked at as a way to get seen as an avenue to get back into the NFL or there for the first time. Not many players are trying to do the reverse of that. Until now.
The Cincinnati Bengals made an interesting transaction Wednesday, releasing veteran quarterback and reigning XFL MVP AJ McCarron.
The XFL part is notable because McCarron reportedly requested his release so he could head back to rejoin the St. Louis Battlehawks, who played in the XFL last season and will be part of the UFL’s inaugural season.
Last season, the Bengals signed McCarron to the practice squad ahead of their Week 3 Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams. McCarron remained on the practice squad until Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Week 11. Cincinnati then promoted McCarron to the 53-man roster to be Jake Browning’s backup.
In a 34-14 victory against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14, McCarron took his first snap in an NFL game since the 2021 season finale when he threw a 20-yard pass on a fake punt for the Houston Texans.
McCarron was not signed for 2024, but he technically was under contract until the new league year begins on March 13. By releasing him this week, the Bengals are allowing McCarron to sign with a spring league.
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McCarron has appeared in 19 career games (four starts) for three teams.
He’s thrown for 1,192 yards and six touchdowns. McCarron was a fifth-round pick by Cincinnati in 2014.
