New England Patriots Claim Former Ohio, BC Lions QB Nathan Rourke Off Waivers
The NFL can be an unpredictable place as players are prone to be cut and signed multiple times during a season. Former CFL quarterback Nathan Rourke is getting a dose of the merry-go-round.
The New England Patriots claimed Rourke off waivers on Monday after he was waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday.
Before the NFL, Rourke was the starting quarterback for the BC Lions for two seasons. He had 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 10 games in 2022, for which he earned the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian award.
His standout season landed him in the NFL in January, where he signed a three-year deal with Jacksonville. Rourke’s 153-yard, two-touchdown performance in the Jaguars' preseason win against the Dallas Cowboys put him on the map. He didn't make the regular-season roster but was signed to the practice squad.
The #Patriots claimed QB Nathan Rourke off waivers from the #Jaguars, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 18, 2023
So after losing Will Grier to the #Chargers, New England's QB depth chart is full again with Rourke, the onetime CFL standout.
He was activated in mid-October but quickly returned to the practice squad. He was activated again last week as the third-string backup behind Trevor Lawrence and CJ Beathard in the Jags' game against the Cleveland Browns.
Per the NFL’s waiver rules, Rourke will have to be active for the Patriots’ last three regular-season games. A new home could mean a legitimate opportunity for Rourke to see action on the field before the season ends.
The Patriots have used a revolving door of quarterbacks this season and now have Rourke, Bailey Zappe, and former first-round draft pick Mac Jones on the roster.
Jacksonville Jaguars Waive Former CFL Star QB Nathan Rourke
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Anthony Miller has been covering professional spring football since 2019 including XFL, USFL, and CFL. He was a local news reporter in Texas before transitioning to sports. Other sites he writes for includes College Football Network and NTZ Network.